Ghana’s President Mahama Invites Sahel States to ECOWAS 50th Anniversary Despite Withdrawal From the Bloc 

Ghana has extended official invitations to the leaders of Burkina Faso, Mali, and Niger to attend the launch of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) 50th anniversary celebrations to be held on April 22, 2025, at the Accra International Conference Centre.

Ghanaian Foreign Minister Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa announced the invitations on April 17, highlighting President John Dramani Mahama’s commitment to regional unity.

The 50th anniversary of ECOWAS is not just a symbolic celebration. It is a strategic opportunity to reflect together on the next fifty years of regional integration, Ablakwa stated.

The three Sahelian nations—Burkina Faso, Mali, and Niger—formally exited ECOWAS on January 29, 2025, following a year of diplomatic tensions and military coups in their respective countries. In response to ECOWAS’s demands for a return to democratic governance, the trio formed the Alliance of Sahel States (AES), seeking alternative regional cooperation.

According to reports, the upcoming event in Accra will also feature a meeting of the ECOWAS Council of Ministers on April 22 and 23, aiming to address the implications of the Sahel states’ withdrawal and to develop a contingency plan for future relations.

Nigerian President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, current Chair of the ECOWAS Authority of Heads of State and Government, is expected to attend alongside other regional leaders and international partners.

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