Ghana is honoured to 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 Center.
The announcement was made in a press statement on April 17 by Minister for Foreign Affairs, Mr. Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa. “The launch is expected to commence at 11:00 A.M and will set the tone for a year-long celebration across all ECOWAS member states,” he said.
According to the minister, the special launch will be hosted by His Excellency, John Dramani Mahama, President of the Republic of Ghana. The event will include the unveiling of the ECOWAS Anniversary Logo and a declaration of the Jubilee Celebrations theme. Ghana will also host a meeting of the Council of Ministers of ECOWAS.
This Council meeting will take place from April 22 to April 23 and will be attended by the Chair of the ECOWAS Authority of Heads of State and Government, His Excellency Bola Ahmed Tinubu, President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria. Other expected attendees include the President of the ECOWAS Commission, Heads of State and Government of Member States, Ministers of Foreign Affairs, Finance Ministers, Heads of Partner Organisations, and representatives of the Alliance of Sahelian States (AES).
For a smooth rollout of the launch, Ghana is committed to providing security and logistical support. “The success of this event is a national priority,” Mr. Ablakwa said.
He emphasized that the ECOWAS@50 Anniversary is not merely a ceremonial event but a moment to reflect on the region’s progress in regional stability, economic growth, and cultural exchange. “Through Protocols such as the ECOWAS Trade Liberalisation Scheme, ECOWAS Brown Card Insurance Scheme and the ECOWAS Free Movement of Goods, Persons, Residence and Establishment, the regional body has achieved an appreciable level of regional integration with an enviable track record on the continent,” he said.
These achievements align with the vision behind ECOWAS’s formation on May 28, 1975, when leaders from across West Africa signed the Treaty of Lagos to promote economic integration.
“Since then, ECOWAS has evolved beyond its economic origins to become an institution that stands as a pillar of democracy, a guardian of regional security, and a beacon of social and cultural integration and a promoter of human capital development, that is working to ensure food security in a sustainable way,” Mr. Ablakwa added.
Although the 15-member bloc has been reduced to 12 following the withdrawal of Mali, Niger, and Burkina Faso, he urged ECOWAS to remain resolute in its vision of a united and prosperous West Africa.
