The much-anticipated launch of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) 50th Anniversary Celebration in Accra on Tuesday, April 22, 2025, was notably overshadowed by the conspicuous absence of nearly all regional heads of state—except one.
Despite efforts by President John Dramani Mahama to present the occasion as a milestone for regional unity, the low turnout of ECOWAS leaders at the Accra International Conference Centre has sparked debate about Ghana’s current diplomatic standing in West Africa.
The event, hosted under the auspices of President John Mahama, came after Ghana secured the nod to host the anniversary celebrations, through the lobbying efforts by former President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo.
The launch was expected to be a major diplomatic affair, gathering leaders across West Africa to reaffirm commitments to integration, peace, and regional cooperation.
Instead, only Liberian President Joseph Boakai showed up in person.
Other ECOWAS countries, including Nigeria—the bloc’s most influential member—sent low-level delegations, with neither the President nor Vice President of Nigeria attending.
This snub has cast a shadow over the event’s significance and raised questions about the effectiveness of Ghana’s foreign diplomacy under the current administration.
Foreign Affairs Minister Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa, who coordinated invitations on behalf of President Mahama, is under scrutiny.
Critics argue that his controversial reputation within diplomatic circles may have contributed to the disappointing turnout.
Okudzeto Ablakwa’s past remarks and political stances have reportedly eroded his credibility among some West African counterparts, making engagement at the highest levels more challenging.
Analysts suggest the event’s weak diplomatic attendance is not just a reflection on the Foreign Minister, but a broader indictment on Ghana’s current diplomatic image.
Political watchers have pointed out that the cold shoulder extended by regional leaders may reflect waning respect or trust in President Mahama’s leadership, despite his calls for regional unity.
During the event, President Mahama used his platform to address ongoing tensions within the region, particularly the recent withdrawal of Mali, Niger, and Burkina Faso from ECOWAS.
The three Sahelian nations have formed the Alliance of Sahel States, citing discontent with ECOWAS’s internal dynamics.
President Mahama urged the bloc to pursue dialogue rather than punitive isolation.
“We must respond not with isolation, recrimination, but with dialogue and the willing ability to listen and to engage,” he said.
He added that Ghana had appointed a special envoy to maintain high-level engagements with the Alliance of Sahel States, reaffirming his commitment to rebuilding diplomatic bridges
“These efforts affirm our belief that we have a shared destiny as a sub-region, and unity, however difficult, remains the best path to shared prosperity and regional stability,” he noted.
While Mahama’s remarks struck a conciliatory tone, the physical absence of most regional heads left a void that underscored the very fragmentation he sought to address.
With ECOWAS at a crossroads and Ghana’s regional diplomacy seemingly faltering, the launch event may serve more as a reflection of current tensions than a celebration of unity.
The coming months will be critical for President Mahama’s administration to rebuild trust within the sub-region and reposition Ghana as a central player in West African diplomacy.
–BY Issah Olegor
