President John Dramani Mahama, has invited the leaders of military juntas in Mali, Burkina Faso, and Niger to attend the official launch of 50 years of ECOWAS’s establishment in Accra.
Addressing the press on Thursday, April 17, 2025, the Minister for Foreign Affairs, Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa, stated that the invitation to the Heads of State from the Sahel bloc is a step towards building bridges and collaborating to strengthen the West African sub‑region.
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.
Ghana’s selection as host has being welcomed as a well‑deserved recognition of the country’s historical leadership in Pan‑Africanism, regional integration, and diplomacy.
As part of the launch, ECOWAS will unveil its 50th‑anniversary logo and declare the official theme for the Jubilee Celebrations.
The launch will also set the tone for a year‑long series of commemorative events across all member states.
After the launch, Ghana will host an Extraordinary Meeting of the ECOWAS Council of Ministers on April 22 and 23, where foreign and finance ministers of member states will deliberate on pressing regional issues, including the recent withdrawal of Mali, Burkina Faso, and Niger from the bloc to form the Alliance of Sahel States (AES).