President John Dramani Mahama has called for renewed unity and dialogue among West African countries, warning that divisions within the sub-region could undermine efforts to achieve peace, security and economic prosperity.
He made the call at the 69th Ordinary Session of the ECOWAS Authority of Heads of State and Government in Freetown, Sierra Leone, where he also welcomed the regional bloc’s decision to support Ghana’s petition to the African Union (AU) on recent xenophobic attacks against Africans in South Africa.
President Mahama said Ghana was deeply concerned about attacks that had resulted in the deaths of some Ghanaians, Nigerians and other Africans, while leaving many others living in fear and uncertainty.
He said Ghana welcomed the decision by ECOWAS leaders to endorse its request for the matter to be placed on the agenda of the next AU Summit.
“Africa’s liberation was achieved through solidarity across our borders. We must never allow that proud legacy to be weakened by intolerance and the actions of a small minority,” he said.
The President used the summit to stress the importance of preserving dialogue among all countries in West Africa, including members of the Alliance of Sahel States.
He said differences between countries should not undermine their shared responsibility to work together to address common challenges.
“Geography had made us neighbours, history had made us partners, and our future requires that we remain one West African family,” President Mahama said.
He said ECOWAS member states, the Alliance of Sahel States and other partners needed to maintain channels of communication to confront threats such as terrorism, violent extremism and transnational organised crime.
According to him, peace and security remained the foundation of development, adding that without peace, economic progress would remain difficult to achieve.
President Mahama said the ECOWAS Compact, built around six thematic pillars, provided a framework for advancing the region’s integration agenda.
The pillars include peace and security; sustainable economic transformation and regional prosperity; science, technology, innovation and digital transformation; youth, women and future generations; institutional reforms and partnerships; ECOWAS’ geopolitical positioning and strategic autonomy; and democracy.
He said effective implementation of the pillars could unlock significant opportunities and improve the living conditions of citizens across the sub-region.
The President also emphasised the need for ECOWAS countries to invest heavily in science, technology and innovation to remain competitive in the rapidly changing global economy.
He said developments in artificial intelligence, e-commerce, smart learning systems and modern production methods were reshaping economies and required countries in the region to adapt.
President Mahama also commended ECOWAS for beginning construction of an Ultra-Portable Logistics Depot in Lungi, Sierra Leone, which is expected to support emergency response operations, crisis situations and the ECOWAS Standby Force.
He paid tribute to the outgoing leadership and staff of the ECOWAS Commission for their contribution to regional integration and expressed hope that the incoming leadership would consolidate the gains achieved.
The President also thanked Sierra Leone’s President Julius Maada Bio for his recent visit to Accra following devastating floods that claimed the lives of 39 Sierra Leonean nationals.
He described President Bio’s expression of sympathy and solidarity as deeply appreciated and congratulated him on his leadership of ECOWAS during what he described as an eventful year.
President Mahama reaffirmed Ghana’s commitment to the ideals of ECOWAS and pledged the country’s continued cooperation with member states, the Commission and development partners to advance peace, prosperity and regional integration.
He said the future of West Africa depended on the ability of its countries to overcome differences, deepen cooperation and work together to build a more secure and prosperous region.
