Also known as: ECOWAS · ECOWAS Council of Ministers · Authority of ECOWAS Heads of State and Government
Economic Community of West African States — West African regional organization that has endorsed initiatives including the Nigeria–Morocco gas pipeline and Ghana's petition against xenophobia.
… In January 2025, Burkina Faso, along with two neighbouring military-led states – Mali and Niger, officially broke away from the regional West African bloc, Ecowas, to form a new group, The Alliance of the Sahel States. …
… She also highlighted political instability in Burkina Faso, Mali and Niger following military takeovers, and the formation of the Alliance of Sahel States (AES) after tensions with the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS). …
… ower prices due to tariff liberalisation on up to 90 percent of goods lines Increased availability of goods across national markets Improved product diversity and quality competition Regional Cooperation Strengthened coordination among Regional Economic Communities such as ECOWAS …
Justice Ricardo Cláudio Monteiro Gonçalves, the President of the Community Court of Justice, ECOWAS, has called on Member States to transform their commitment to enforcing the Court’s judgments into concrete action. …
… ng the Ghana Revenue Authority authority to automatically adjust tobacco taxes annually in line with inflation and economic growth, increasing the excise tax rate on akpeteshie from 20 per cent to 40 per cent, and removing tax exemptions on tobacco imports originating from ECOWAS …
… Last year, Niger, Mali and Burkina Faso also simultaneously withdrew from the Economic Community of West African States (Ecowas), the regional bloc, and created the Confederation of Sahel States for the three nations. …
… The industry also exports over 57% of its products across the ECOWAS region and beyond, including Angola, Namibia, the Democratic Republic of Congo, and Algeria, making it one of Ghana’s top five commodity exports. …
… Ayorrogo highlighted the institution’s responsibility to support Member States of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) in building sustainable capacity for peace and security. …
… Ayorrogo underscored the institution’s responsibility to support Member States of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) in strengthening sustainable peace and security capacities. …
ECOWAS has called on member states to strengthen their national gender institutions to accelerate progress towards gender equality and the implementation of regional and international commitments. The Resident Representative cited weak institutional capacity, inadequate financing and poor coordination among national gender mechanisms as major obstacles to advancing gender equality across the sub-region.
ECOWAS has called on member states to strengthen their national gender institutions to accelerate progress towards gender equality and the implementation of regional and international commitments. The Resident Representative cited weak institutional capacity, inadequate financing and poor coordination among national gender mechanisms as major obstacles to advancing gender equality across the sub-region.
ECOWAS, the Government of Ghana and development partners have reaffirmed their commitment to strengthening institutional capacity, gender equality and women's empowerment across West Africa at the 2026 ECOWAS Gender Development Centre Annual Briefing in Accra. The meeting reviewed achievements from 2022 to 2026 and outlined strategic priorities for 2026-2030, including strengthening collaboration among member states and introducing the ECOWAS Gender Observatory to improve gender data collection and evidence-based policymaking.
Ambassador D.K. Osei, president of the Ghana Council on Foreign Relations, called for bold and visionary leadership across Africa, warning that the continent risks losing its influence in an evolving global order unless leaders deepen integration and speak with one voice on international issues. He argued that achieving Agenda 2063 development aspirations will require difficult decisions, sacrifices, and potential ceding of sovereignty, particularly in security and foreign policy, while questioning whether African states are prepared to strengthen the AfCFTA and pursue initiatives such as a common currency.
Ambassador D.K. Osei, president of the Ghana Council on Foreign Relations, has urged Ghana to use its upcoming AU chairmanship to drive continental reforms under Agenda 2063, arguing that African nations must be willing to make political and economic sacrifices to deepen integration through the AfCFTA and other initiatives, though he expressed doubt about whether countries are genuinely prepared for such bold steps.
Hannah Tetteh, UN Special Representative for Libya, has warned that the weakening of the global multilateral system could have serious consequences for Africa, particularly countries with limited influence on the international stage, and that smaller and less powerful nations would be disproportionately affected if multilateral cooperation continues to deteriorate.
Ghana's Foreign Affairs Minister Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa and Nigeria's High Commissioner-designate Shehu Ilu Barde have reaffirmed commitment to strengthening bilateral relations and enhancing economic cooperation, with focus on removing trade barriers and leveraging the African Continental Free Trade Area to increase bilateral trade.
Ghana's government has announced a GH¢5,500 support package for Ghanaian evacuees returning from South Africa, comprising a GH¢5,000 reintegration grant, GH¢500 travel allowance, relief items, and NHIS registration. The two-phase evacuation exercise is expected to bring home nearly 2,000 Ghanaians, with the first phase having brought 926 returnees and the second phase expected to facilitate the return of about 1,000 more.
International Relations expert Professor Vladimir Antwi-Danso has defended Ghana's government call for justice over two Ghanaian nationals killed in recent attacks in South Africa, describing it as a standard and legitimate diplomatic response grounded in established principles of international relations.
Ghana and Nigeria have reaffirmed their commitment to strengthening bilateral trade and economic cooperation under the African Continental Free Trade Area, pledging to remove trade barriers and increase bilateral trade volumes. Ghana's Foreign Affairs Minister Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa also called for eliminating obstacles to trade and investment, and urged both governments and other ECOWAS member states to build confidence in the proposed ECO single currency.
Ghana's Foreign Affairs Minister Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa has called on Nigeria to investigate alleged attacks on properties belonging to Ghanaian business mogul Sir Sam Jonah, urging protection of cross-border investments. The Nigerian High Commissioner-designate assured the minister he would examine the matter and engage appropriate authorities.
Ghana's Foreign Affairs Minister Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa has asked Nigeria to investigate alleged attacks on properties owned by Ghanaian business mogul Sir Sam Jonah, citing the need to protect investments and sustain investor confidence. The incoming Nigerian High Commissioner pledged to examine the matter.
Ghana's Finance Minister announced that US$1.7 billion has been deposited in a dedicated account at the Bank of Ghana for the 176-kilometre six-lane Accra–Kumasi Expressway, which is expected to reduce travel time between the two cities to about two hours. The Ghana Armed Forces has cleared 122 kilometres of the required right-of-way, with procurement for the main construction contract expected to commence in September.
South Africa has rejected a petition filed by two Ghanaians at the International Criminal Court seeking an investigation into attacks on foreigners, calling it "opportunistic" and arguing its own legal system can handle such matters. Ghana has repatriated citizens following anti-migrant violence and claims one of its nationals was killed, though South African authorities deny this.
William Nyarko, Executive Director of the Africa Center for International Law and Accountability, has called for Africa's early warning systems to be matched by timely political action, arguing that failure to act on credible warnings continues to cost lives across the continent. Speaking at a conference on mass atrocity prevention, Nyarko noted that while progress has been made in detecting risks of mass atrocities over the past decade, preventive action has too often lagged behind early warning.
West African women leaders and parliamentarians meeting in Accra adopted the Accra Declaration calling for violence against women and girls to be treated as a legislative emergency and committing to sweeping legislative and policy reforms. The declaration warns that despite many West African countries enacting progressive laws to combat gender-based violence, implementation remains weak due to inadequate enforcement, insufficient funding, and entrenched social norms.
Female parliamentarians and gender ministers from across West Africa have adopted the Accra Declaration on Ending Violence Against Women and Girls, calling for the issue to be treated as a legislative emergency. They cited rising cases of gender-based violence, harmful cultural practices and weak law implementation as persistent problems undermining democracy and development in the sub-region.
West African leaders have endorsed the legal and institutional framework for the Nigeria–Morocco African Atlantic Gas Pipeline at an ECOWAS summit in Freetown, Sierra Leone. The 6,800-kilometre pipeline is intended to transport Nigerian natural gas to Morocco and potentially supply European markets through existing connections.
West African leaders have backed the legal and institutional framework for the 6,800-kilometre Nigeria–Morocco African Atlantic Gas Pipeline at an ECOWAS summit in Freetown, Sierra Leone. The project, developed by Nigeria's NNPC and Morocco's ONHYM, aims to transport Nigerian natural gas to Morocco and potentially supply European markets.
West African leaders have formally endorsed the Nigeria-Morocco Atlantic Gas Pipeline, a 6,000km project running along the Atlantic coast of 14 African nations. Construction is expected to begin in 2028, with the pipeline intended to carry Nigerian gas to Morocco and link into Europe's gas network.
The Executive Director of the Media Foundation for West Africa says Ghana has failed to take decisive action against misinformation and disinformation, which threaten the country's democracy and social cohesion. He argues that successive governments have not responded proactively, and that political actors tolerate false information when it benefits their opponents.
The ECOWAS Authority of Heads of State and Government has endorsed Ghana's request to place the issue of xenophobic attacks in South Africa on the agenda of the next African Union Summit. President Mahama expressed concern over recent xenophobic attacks targeting African nationals in South Africa, noting that Africa's liberation was achieved through cross-border solidarity.
The Concerned Citizens of Ghana has urged the Government of Ghana to engage Nigerian authorities over alleged coordinated attacks on Jonah Capital Nigeria Limited, a Ghanaian-owned developer of Abuja's River Park Estate, warning that inaction could harm bilateral relations and investor confidence in ECOWAS.
The Concerned Citizens of Ghana has urged the Government of Ghana to engage Nigerian authorities over alleged coordinated attacks on Jonah Capital Nigeria Limited, a Ghanaian-owned developer of Abuja's River Park Estate, warning that inaction could damage bilateral relations and investor confidence in ECOWAS.
Sierra Leone's government has dropped treason and related charges against ex-President Ernest Bai Koroma, who was arrested after an attempted coup in November 2023. The charges were dropped on health grounds, and Koroma, who has always denied involvement, is now free to return to Sierra Leone at any time.
Female parliamentarians and gender advocates from West Africa have been urged to use gender-responsive budgeting to fight violence against women and girls, with proper funding and oversight. The call was made during the West Africa Female Parliamentarians Peer Review Conference on Ending Violence Against Women and Girls in Accra, where a Kenyan advocate argued that gender equality commitments must be reflected in public spending to succeed.
The Ofoase Ayirebi MP called on West African parliaments to make gender impact assessments standard in the legislative process and urged female legislators across the sub-region to unite to push for the criminalisation of Female Genital Mutilation in countries where it remains legal.
Guinea-Bissau's military court has ordered opposition leader and former Prime Minister Domingos Simoes Pereira back to jail, accusing him of involvement in an alleged October 2025 coup attempt, following his release from house arrest in February. Pereira's family denies the charges and says no trial date has been set.
A ECOWAS Commission delegation is conducting a three-day study tour in Ghana to examine the National Petroleum Authority's regulatory framework on fuel quality standards, with the aim of strengthening downstream petroleum regulation across the sub-region through experience-sharing and harmonised standards.
ECOWAS parliamentary public accounts committee members have been urged to strengthen collaboration to tackle corruption, illicit financial flows and financial crimes in the sub-region. The Finance Minister noted that Africa loses an estimated $88.6 billion annually to corruption and illicit financial flows, resources that could otherwise support education, healthcare and infrastructure.