President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has urged West African leaders to draw inspiration from Ghana’s recent peaceful elections, emphasizing the importance of democratic maturity and national unity in achieving political stability throughout the region.
Speaking at the 66th Ordinary Session of the ECOWAS Commission in Abuja on Sunday, Tinubu, who is also the Chairman of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS), commended the Ghanaian people and outgoing President Nana Akufo-Addo for their exemplary democratic practices.
“I encourage all of us in the region to learn from Ghana’s peaceful elections and focus on our countries’ national unity to ensure stability across West Africa. Let this peaceful transition of power become the cultural norm not just in West Africa, but across Africa,” Tinubu stated.
The Nigerian leader highlighted the significance of Ghana’s recent elections, which took place on December 7, 2024.
He pointed out the remarkable gesture by the incumbent Vice President Mahamudu Bawumia and the New Patriotic Party (NPP) leadership, who conceded defeat and congratulated President-elect John Dramani Mahama of the National Democratic Congress (NDC) even before the official results were announced.
Tinubu praised this as an act of political maturity, echoing Nigeria’s similar peaceful transfer of power in 2015.
Tinubu also extended his praise to President Akufo-Addo for his exceptional leadership and commitment to ECOWAS during his tenure, recognizing him as a dedicated Pan-Africanist.
He also congratulated the people of Senegal for the success of their parliamentary elections and expressed his best wishes to Ghana’s Foreign Minister Shirley Ayokor Botchwey, who was recently appointed Secretary-General of the Commonwealth.
During his address, Tinubu reflected on the accomplishments of his first term as ECOWAS Chair, noting significant progress in regional integration, economic growth, conflict resolution, and counterterrorism efforts.
He pointed to initiatives such as the ECOWAS Trade Liberalisation Scheme (ETLS), the Common External Tariff (CET), and regional infrastructure projects like the West African Gas Pipeline and the West Africa Power Pool, which have improved connectivity and strengthened economic cooperation.
Tinubu emphasized the critical role of peacekeeping operations in the region, such as those in The Gambia and Guinea-Bissau, as evidence of ECOWAS’s capacity to act decisively in times of crisis.
He also mentioned the ECOWAS Regional Action Plan on the Fight Against Terrorism, which provides a strategic framework for combating extremism and bolstering regional security.
As ECOWAS approaches its 50th anniversary in 2025, President Tinubu urged member states to reaffirm their commitment to the bloc’s founding principles of economic integration, peace, and prosperity.
“As leaders, it is our duty to protect our citizens and create an environment where they can thrive,” he said, underscoring that security and improving the living standards of the people are essential responsibilities.
At the session, the President of the ECOWAS Commission, Dr. Omar Touray, praised Nigeria’s commitment to the community, highlighting that for the first time in 19 years, Nigeria paid 100% of its community levy for 2023.
He announced that Nigeria had remitted N85 billion and $54 million, reflecting the country’s leadership and dedication to ECOWAS under President Tinubu’s stewardship.
Dr. Touray called on other member states to fulfill their financial obligations to ensure the continued success of the regional bloc.
