President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has called on West African leaders to emulate Ghana's recent peaceful elections as a benchmark for democratic maturity and national unity in the region.
Speaking at the 66th Ordinary Session of ECOWAS in Abuja, President Tinubu commended President Nana Akufo-Addo and the people of Ghana for the successful presidential and parliamentary elections. He highlighted the concession of defeat by Ghana’s ruling party, New Patriotic Party (NPP), and Vice President Mahamudu Bawumia, who congratulated the President-elect, John Dramani Mahama of the National Democratic Congress (NDC), even before official results were declared.
“This gesture, as it happened in Nigeria in 2015, demonstrates political maturity and respect for the will of the people,” President Tinubu noted, urging leaders to prioritize national unity and make peaceful transitions the hallmark of governance not just in West Africa, but across the continent.
President Tinubu praised President Akufo-Addo for his steadfast leadership and recognized Ghana's Foreign Minister, Shirley Ayokor Botchwey, for her efforts in ECOWAS reforms, wishing her success as the incoming Secretary General of the Commonwealth.
Reflecting on achievements during his tenure as ECOWAS Chair, President Tinubu cited milestones in regional integration, counterterrorism, and infrastructure development, including the West African Gas Pipeline and West Africa Power Pool projects. He also commended ECOWAS peacekeeping missions for their role in stabilizing countries like The Gambia and Guinea Bissau.
As ECOWAS approaches its 50th anniversary in 2025, President Tinubu urged member states to renew their commitment to economic integration and security, emphasizing that improving living standards is not just an aspiration but a leadership obligation.
In a major financial milestone, Nigeria, under President Tinubu's leadership, fully paid its community levies for the first time in nearly two decades. ECOWAS Commission President Dr. Omar Touray applauded this contribution, noting it reflects Nigeria’s dedication to regional progress.
With attendance from presidents, ministers, and high-ranking officials across the region, the session underscored the importance of collective efforts to strengthen democracy, stability, and development in West Africa.
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