President Bola Tinubu has called on West African leaders, to emulate Ghana’s exemplary democratic practices, emphasizing the importance of peaceful transitions and national unity in fostering regional stability.
Speaking at the 66th Ordinary Session of ECOWAS in Abuja, P Tinubu hailed Ghana’s recent presidential and parliamentary elections, highlighting the concession by the ruling New Patriotic Party (NPP) and Vice President Mahamudu Bawumia to President-elect John Dramani Mahama of the National Democratic Congress (NDC) as a sign of political maturity.
“This gesture, like what we achieved in Nigeria in 2015, demonstrates respect for the will of the people and a commitment to democratic values. I urge all of us in the region to prioritize national unity and ensure peaceful political transitions as a standard for democracy across Africa,” Tinubu said.
He also commended Ghanaian President Nana Akufo-Addo for his leadership and contribution to ECOWAS during his tenure, describing him as a dedicated Pan-Africanist.
Similarly, he lauded Ghana’s Foreign Minister, Shirley Ayokor Botchwey, for her efforts in leading ECOWAS reforms and wished her success in her new role as Commonwealth Secretary-General.
Explaining ECOWAS’s progress during his tenure as Chair, Tinubu listed key achievements, including advancements in regional trade through the ECOWAS Trade Liberalisation Scheme (ETLS) and infrastructure projects like the West African Gas Pipeline and the West Africa Power Pool.
“Our efforts in modernizing border posts, enhancing trade, and promoting regional connectivity reflect our commitment to integration and economic growth,” Tinubu noted.
He also acknowledged ECOWAS’s success in peace keeping missions in The Gambia and Guinea-Bissau, as well as previous operations in Liberia and Sierra Leone, as evidence of the bloc’s capacity to address regional challenges.
The President also echoed the necessity of security and improved living standards for citizens, calling for renewed dedication to ECOWAS’s founding principles of economic integration, peace, and prosperity ahead of the bloc’s 50th anniversary in 2025.
“Security is not a luxury but a necessity. Enhancing the living standards of our people is not an aspiration but an obligation,” he said.
The President of the ECOWAS Commission, Omar Touray, commended Nigeria for its financial contributions under President Tinubu’s leadership, noting that the country had fully paid its 2023 community levy and substantial portions for 2024.
The summit was attended by the Presidents of Ghana, Cote d’Ivoire, the Gambia, Guinea-Bissau, Liberia, and Senegal, alongside representatives from Sierra Leone, Benin, Togo, and Cape Verde.
The session ended with a renewed call for member states to fulfil their financial obligations and remain committed to the shared vision of a peaceful, integrated, and prosperous West Africa.
