The regional body, ECOWAS concluded its extraordinary session in the Ghanaian capital Accra, finalizing an emergency plan to address the withdrawal of Burkina Faso, Mali, and Niger from the bloc, effective since January 29, 2025.
The Council of Ministers meeting, held from April 22 to 23, focused on the implications of the departure on regional programs, institutional operations, and the continuity of trade and free movement.
Ghana’s Foreign Minister Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa emphasized the aim was to ensure a coordinated and strategic response, not to debate the withdrawal, and highlighted the importance of preserving West African unity as ECOWAS marks its 50th anniversary.
ECOWAS Commission President Omar Alieu Touray presented a five-pronged emergency plan addressing legal adjustments, market access, security cooperation, development program continuity, and protection of social achievements.
Nigerian Foreign Minister Yusuf Maitama Tuggar called for unity and resilience, underscoring the importance of inclusive integration.
Ghanaian President John Mahama, speaking at the anniversary celebration, regretted the exit of the Sahel states but advocated for dialogue and renewed diplomatic engagement, announcing Ghana’s readiness to serve as a mediator.
He reaffirmed ECOWAS’s legacy of resolving regional crises and urged leaders to usher in a new era of solidarity and shared prosperity.
