Saturday, December 14, 2024

President Tinubu urges ECOWAS leaders to follow Ghana’s democratic example

Nigerian President Bola Tinubu

ABUJA — On Sunday, President Bola Tinubu encouraged West African leaders to take inspiration from Ghana’s peaceful elections as a demonstration of democracy and unity.

Speaking at the 66th Ordinary Session of ECOWAS in Abuja, Tinubu praised Ghana's President Nana Akufo-Addo and the Ghanaian people for their successful recent elections.

He called it a model for the region.

Tinubu said:“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 Africa continent.”

Referring to Ghana’s elections on December 7, 2024, Tinubu highlighted the peaceful conduct of the polls. He noted that Vice President Mahamudu Bawumia, a key candidate, and his party, the New Patriotic Party (NPP), accepted the results and congratulated the President-elect, John Dramani Mahama of the National Democratic Congress (NDC), even before the official announcement.

“This gesture, as it happened in Nigeria in 2015, demonstrates political maturity and respect for the will of the people of Ghana,” Tinubu said.

Tinubu also commended Nana Akufo-Addo for his leadership in ECOWAS, calling him a dedicated Pan-Africanist. He congratulated Senegal for its successful parliamentary elections and Ghana’s Foreign Minister, Shirley Ayokor Botchwey, on her new role as Secretary General of the Commonwealth.

Reflecting on his first term as ECOWAS Chair, Tinubu outlined key achievements, including progress in regional integration, economic growth, conflict resolution, and counterterrorism.

He highlighted the ECOWAS Trade Liberalisation Scheme (ETLS), the Common External Tariff (CET), and regional infrastructure projects like the West African Gas Pipeline, the West Africa Power Pool, and modernized border posts. These efforts, Tinubu said, have improved regional trade and connectivity.

He added:“Furthermore, 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.”

Tinubu also mentioned the ECOWAS Regional Action Plan on the Fight Against Terrorism, which provides a framework for countering extremism and boosting security.

As ECOWAS approaches its 50th anniversary in 2025, Tinubu urged member states to renew their commitment to economic integration, peace, and prosperity.

He said:“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.”