Tinubu urges ECOWAS leaders to emulate Ghana's peaceful elections
President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has called on West African leaders to draw inspiration from Ghana’s recent peaceful elections, hailing the country's democratic maturity and commitment to national unity.
Speaking at the opening of the 66th Ordinary Session of ECOWAS in Abuja, President Tinubu commended Ghana's President Nana Akufo-Addo and the people of Ghana for setting a high standard with their successful presidential and parliamentary elections held on December 7, 2024.
“I urge all of us in the region to learn from this good democratic practice and prioritise our country’s national unity to ensure political stability of the region so that this manner of peaceful transition becomes the culture of democracy not only in West Africa but also in the entire African continent,” Tinubu said.
President Tinubu praised the gesture of Ghana’s incumbent Vice President, Dr Mahamudu Bawumia, and the ruling New Patriotic Party (NPP) leadership, who conceded defeat and congratulated the President-elect, John Dramani Mahama of the National Democratic Congress (NDC), even before the official announcement of results.
“This gesture, as it happened in Nigeria in 2015, demonstrates political maturity and respect for the will of the people of Ghana,” Tinubu noted.
The Nigerian President further lauded President Akufo-Addo’s exceptional leadership and his role as a committed Pan-Africanist during his term. He also praised Ghana’s Foreign Minister, Shirley Ayokor Botchwey, for her leadership in the ECOWAS Ministerial Committee of Reform and wished her success in her new role as Secretary-General of the Commonwealth.
In his second term as ECOWAS Chair, Tinubu outlined achievements from his first term, including advancements in regional integration, economic cooperation, and counterterrorism efforts. He highlighted initiatives such as the ECOWAS Trade Liberalisation Scheme (ETLS), the Common External Tariff (CET), and infrastructure projects like the West African Gas Pipeline and the West Africa Power Pool.
“Our efforts in stabilising our region through peacekeeping missions currently in The Gambia and Guinea-Bissau, as well as previous operations in Liberia and Sierra Leone, have demonstrated our capacity to act decisively in the face of adversity,” he stated.
President Tinubu emphasized the importance of the ECOWAS Regional Action Plan on the Fight Against Terrorism, describing it as a comprehensive framework to combat violent extremism and enhance regional security.
As ECOWAS approaches its 50th anniversary in 2025, Tinubu urged member states to reaffirm their commitment to the bloc’s ideals of economic integration, peace, and prosperity.
“As a regional community, we must maintain our fundamental responsibility: to protect our citizens and create an enabling environment where they can prosper. As leaders, we know that security is not a luxury but a necessity. Equally, enhancing the living standards of our people is not an aspiration but an obligation,” he said.
The session was attended by leaders from Cote d’Ivoire, Ghana, The Gambia, Guinea-Bissau, Liberia, and Senegal. Sierra Leone was represented by its Vice President, while Benin, Togo, and Cape Verde were represented by senior officials.
Earlier in his address, ECOWAS Commission President, Dr Omar Touray, applauded Nigeria for its exemplary financial contributions to the regional body. He revealed that Nigeria, under Tinubu’s leadership, paid 100% of its community levy for 2023 and substantial remittances for 2024.
“For the first time in 19 years, Nigeria has paid 100% of its community levy from 2023. On Friday, December 13, 2024, Nigeria paid N85 billion and $54 million, representing 100% of the 2023 levy and the 2024 levy up to July 2024. This underscores the leadership and commitment of President Tinubu, the government, and the people of Nigeria to our community,” Dr Touray stated.
He called on other member states to follow Nigeria’s example and meet their financial obligations to ECOWAS diligently.
The session underscored a renewed focus on democratic governance, regional integration, and collective security as key pillars for stability and prosperity in West Africa.