President John Mahama has extended an invitation to the junta leaders of Burkina Faso, Mali, and Niger to attend the official 50th anniversary of ECOWAS’s establishment in Accra.
This was disclosed by the Foreign Affairs Minister, Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa at a press conference on Thursday, April 17, 2025.
He explained that the invitation was a direct request from President Mahama in his capacity as summit host.
“I did indicate all ECOWAS heads of state have been invited for this event, including heads of state of the AES countries.
“Because of the divorce from ECOWAS, it requires the host president to be solely responsible for that invitation. So they will come as guests of the Ghanaian president,” he said.
Ghana will host the official launch of the 50th anniversary celebrations of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) on April 22, 2025, at the Accra International Conference Centre.
According to the Minister, the launch ceremony will be graced by key dignitaries including the Chairman of the ECOWAS Authority of Heads of State and Government, Bola Ahmed Tinubu, President of Nigeria; the President of the ECOWAS Commission; Heads of State and Government from member countries; and representatives of regional and international partner organisations.
The invitation comes months after the three Sahel nations namely; Niger, Burkina Faso and Mali formally exited ECOWAS earlier this year and formed their own Alliance of Sahel States (AES).
He added that the President’s decision is part of efforts for the breakaway countries to reintegrate with ECOWAS.
“In the spirit of goodwill and seeking to foster reunification… when President Mahama discussed with his colleagues that he wanted to invite the AES heads of state, he did not face any opposition or resistance. That is really a good sign that there is genuine commitment and desire for ECOWAS to be fully reintegrated.”
“President Tinubu has said that at the next ECOWAS heads of state summit, President Mahama will be given the floor to present a detailed report of his engagements,” he said.
