Also known as: Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) Commission
ECOWAS Commission — West African regional organization coordinating energy, trade, healthcare, gender development, and judicial matters among member states.
News reports
Order a long-term news report on ECOWAS Commission
Every mention in the Ghanaian press over the period you choose, compiled as a PDF or Word document.
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Joy Online
The Government of Ghana on Friday, July 31, held a state funeral for former Minister for Foreign Affairs and former President of the ECOWAS Commission, Ambassador James Victor Gbeho, in honour of his distinguished service to Ghana, the West African sub-region and the internationa …
Photos: Ghana bids farewell to Ambassador James Victor GbehoJoy Online
… Foreign Affairs Minister Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa made the announcement while delivering a tribute at the state funeral of the former Foreign Affairs Minister and former President of the ECOWAS Commission on Friday, July 31. …
Foreign Affairs Ministry to name facility after late Ambassador GbehoJoy Online
… Beyond Ghana’s borders, Ambassador Gbeho also served as the United Nations Secretary-General’s Special Representative for Somalia, ECOWAS Special Representative for Liberia and later President of the ECOWAS Commission, where he played key roles in peacebuilding and regional integ …
Mahama pays tribute to Ambassador James Gbeho, hails five decades of distinguished public serviceJoy Online
… Ambassador Mohammed Lawan Gana, ECOWAS Resident Representative in Ghana, commended the Government for hosting the meeting and reaffirmed the ECOWAS Commission’s commitment to advancing gender equality in the sub-region. …
ECOWAS, partners reaffirm commitment to women’s empowermentThe Ghanaian Times
… He also served as President of the ECOWAS Commission. The government extended its deepest condolences to the Gbeho family and all those mourning the late diplomat. …
State funeral for Ambassador James Victor Gbeho set for July 31Joy Online
… Beyond Ghana, Ambassador Gbeho also held key international appointments, serving as the United Nations Secretary-General’s Special Representative for Somalia before becoming President of the ECOWAS Commission, where he played a significant role in advancing regional integration a …
State burial for James Victor Gbeho comes off on July 31Joy Online
A delegation from the ECOWAS Commission has begun a three-day study tour in Ghana to understudy the National Petroleum Authority’s (NPA) regulatory framework on fuel quality standards as part of efforts to strengthen downstream petroleum regulation across the sub-region. …
ECOWAS delegation visits Ghana to study NPA fuel quality standards and petroleum regulationJoy Online
… nt to Framework: Operationalising a Collaborative Architecture for the Enforcement of Court Judgments.” It brought together Competent National Authorities from Benin, Togo, Guinea, Senegal, Guinea Bissau, Liberia, Sierra Leone and Nigeria, representatives of the ECOWAS Commission …
ECOWAS Court seeks stronger compliance with judgmentsThe Ghanaian Times
… He was Ghana’s Minister for Foreign Affairs, a Member of Parliament for the Anlo constituency, and President (formerly Executive Secretary) of the ECOWAS Commission. …
Family of late diplomat James Victor Gbeho officially notifies Prez Mahama of his passingJoy Online
… Over a distinguished career, he served in several key roles, including Ghana’s Minister for Foreign Affairs, Member of Parliament for the Anlo constituency, and President (formerly Executive Secretary) of the ECOWAS Commission. …
Family of the late diplomat Victor Gbeho officially informs President Mahama of his passingEnergy ministers from ECOWAS member states are meeting in Accra to consider a directive on battery energy storage systems and an amendment to regional electricity market levy regulations, aimed at harmonizing energy sector operations and supporting renewable energy development across the sub-region.
23 October 2026 · Joy Online →
Energy ministers from ECOWAS member states are meeting in Accra to consider a directive on battery energy storage systems and an amendment to regional electricity market levy regulations, aimed at harmonizing energy sector operations and supporting renewable energy development across the sub-region.
23 October 2026 · Joy Online →
Ghana's Trade Minister Elizabeth Ofosu-Adjare has committed to signing and ratifying the United Nations Convention on Negotiable Cargo Documents (the Accra Convention), adopted by the UN General Assembly in December 2025, to facilitate trade finance, cross-border commerce, and digital cargo documentation across ECOWAS.
8 October 2026 · Joy Online →
Ghana's Trade Minister says the country is committed to signing and ratifying the UN Convention on Negotiable Cargo Documents, which provides a common legal framework for using cargo documents in financing and trading goods transported by road, rail and air. Ghana will host the opening for signature in Accra on October 26, 2026, and is urging other ECOWAS members to adopt the Convention.
8 October 2026 · Joy Online →
Sierra Leone's Minority Leader has criticized excessive bureaucracy in global climate-finance systems, arguing that countries bearing the worst impacts of climate change struggle to access funding when needed most. He urged ECOWAS to establish dedicated mechanisms to help member states navigate administrative processes associated with climate funding.
24 September 2026 · Joy Online →
Sierra Leone's Minority Leader has called on ECOWAS to establish common laws and institutions for disaster preparedness, arguing that member states lack adequate systems to respond to climate-related emergencies such as floods and mudslides. He said the region should develop coordinated emergency-response mechanisms with early-warning systems rather than relying on individual national responses.
24 September 2026 · Joy Online →
The Dean of UPSA Law School, Prof Ernest Kofi Abotsi, has called on the ECOWAS Court of Justice to establish clearer jurisdictional principles to strengthen public confidence, address sovereignty concerns, and reinforce the Court's legitimacy in West Africa.
23 September 2026 · Joy Online →
Prof Kofi Abotsi, dean of UPSA Law School, warned that the ECOWAS Court of Justice's credibility and effectiveness depend on its ability to remain independent and ensure its decisions are respected, even when politically inconvenient to member states. He identified enforcement of the Court's orders as a difficult challenge, arguing that regional courts become vulnerable when their decisions have significant consequences for governments.
23 September 2026 · Joy Online →
Vice President Jane Naana Opoku-Agyemang called on ECOWAS member states to strengthen cooperation and develop coordinated responses to climate change, environmental degradation, population displacement and insecurity in West Africa.
23 September 2026 · Daily Guide →
The West African Health Organisation has launched projects to establish Health Service User Support Centres in Benin, The Gambia and Togo, providing patients with structured places to report healthcare problems, seek guidance and support. The centres will also facilitate dialogue and mediation, using patient feedback to identify recurring issues and improve healthcare quality and safety.
29 August 2026 · Joy Online →
President John Dramani Mahama and Vice President Jane Naana Opoku-Agyemang led a state funeral at the Forecourt of the State House in Accra on Friday for James Victor Gbeho, a former Minister of Foreign Affairs who died at age 91 on June 13, 2026. The ceremony brought together prominent figures including MPs, ministers, government officials, and representatives from the diplomatic community, ECOWAS, and the United Nations.
1 August 2026 · Joy Online →
The Government of Ghana held a state funeral on Friday, July 31, for former Minister for Foreign Affairs and former President of the ECOWAS Commission, Ambassador James Victor Gbeho, at the forecourt of the State House in Accra. The ceremony, attended by President John Dramani Mahama, Vice President Naana Jane Opoku-Agyemang, parliamentary and diplomatic figures, and international dignitaries, celebrated his distinguished service to Ghana, the West African sub-region, and the international community.
31 July 2026 · Joy Online →
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs will name one of the facilities in its new ministerial block after the late Ambassador James Victor Gbeho, a former Foreign Affairs Minister and former President of the ECOWAS Commission, in recognition of his contributions to Ghana's diplomacy and public service. Foreign Affairs Minister Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa made the announcement at Gbeho's state funeral.
31 July 2026 · Joy Online →
President John Mahama has paid tribute to the late Ambassador James Victor Gbeho at his state funeral on July 31, describing him as a distinguished diplomat who served Ghana with integrity and professionalism throughout more than five decades in public service. Mahama highlighted Gbeho's tenure as Ghana's Ambassador and Permanent Representative to the United Nations between 1980 and 1990 as one of the longest and most distinguished diplomatic postings in the country's history.
31 July 2026 · Joy Online →
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.
30 July 2026 · Joy Online →
Ghana will hold a state funeral for late former Foreign Affairs Minister James Victor Gbeho on July 31, 2026, at the State House in Accra. The diplomat served as Chief Director and Deputy Minister in the Foreign Affairs Ministry, UN Special Representative for Somalia, and President of the ECOWAS Commission.
29 July 2026 · The Ghanaian Times →
Government has announced a state funeral for the late Ambassador James Victor Gbeho, to be held at the forecourt of Jubilee House on Friday, July 31, 2026, in recognition of his decades of service as a distinguished diplomat including roles as Ghana's Foreign Minister, UN Special Representative for Somalia, and President of the ECOWAS Commission.
29 July 2026 · Joy Online →
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.
14 July 2026 · Joy Online →
The President of the ECOWAS Community Court of Justice called on Member States to translate their commitment to enforcing the Court's judgments into concrete action, citing enforcement as a pressing challenge for the regional judicial system. The call came at the Second Meeting of Competent National Authorities in Cotonou, Benin, which brought together officials from eight West African countries to operationalise mechanisms for enforcing Court judgments.
26 June 2026 · Joy Online →
The family of Ambassador James Victor Gbeho, a distinguished statesman who served as Ghana's Foreign Minister, ECOWAS Commission President, and MP for Anlo, has formally notified President Mahama of his passing. Gbeho was widely respected for his roles in regional integration and global diplomacy at the United Nations.
23 June 2026 · The Ghanaian Times →
The family of Ambassador James Victor Gbeho, a prominent Ghanaian statesman and former Foreign Minister, has formally notified President Mahama of his passing during a courtesy visit to the Presidency. Gbeho served as Ghana's Foreign Minister, Member of Parliament for Anlo, and President of the ECOWAS Commission, and was widely regarded for his contributions to regional integration and West African diplomacy.
23 June 2026 · Joy Online →
The family of late Ambassador James Victor Gbeho has formally notified President John Mahama of his passing during a courtesy call at the Presidency, fulfilling both cultural and diplomatic obligations. Gbeho was a distinguished diplomat who served as Ghana's Foreign Minister, an MP for Anlo, and president of the ECOWAS Commission, earning recognition for his contributions to West African integration and international diplomacy.
23 June 2026 · Joy Online →
The Agyeman-Rawlings family paid a condolence visit to the family of former Foreign Minister Ambassador James Victor Gbeho, who died on Sunday. MP Dr Zanetor Agyeman-Rawlings described Gbeho as a close family friend and offered the Rawlings family's support during the period of mourning.
17 June 2026 · Joy Online →
Ambassador James Victor Gbeho, a distinguished Ghanaian statesman and career diplomat who served as President of the ECOWAS Commission, Ghana's Foreign Minister, and UN Special Representative for Somalia, passed away on June 13, 2026, at age 90. A book of condolence is open at his Accra residence from June 17 to July 8, 2026, with visiting hours on Tuesdays, Thursdays, and Saturdays from 10:00 am to 2:00 pm.
15 June 2026 · Joy Online →
The ECOWAS Commission has expressed condolences on the death of former Commission President Ambassador James Victor Gbeho, describing his passing as a major loss to Ghana, West Africa, and the international diplomatic community. Gbeho served as ECOWAS Commission President from February 2010 to March 2012 and held several high-profile positions including Ghana's Foreign Minister and UN Ambassador.
15 June 2026 · Joy Online →
Ambassador James Victor Gbeho, who served as Ghana's Minister for Foreign Affairs from 1997 to 2001 and as President of the ECOWAS Commission from 2010 to 2012, died at a hospital on Saturday, June 13, 2026, at age 91. Born in Keta in 1935, Gbeho was a lawyer and diplomat who also represented Anlo Constituency in Parliament and held ambassadorial postings in China, India, Nigeria, Germany, the United Kingdom, Switzerland, and at the United Nations.
14 June 2026 · Joy Online →
Nigeria's team "Error" won the 4th ECOWAS Regional Cybersecurity Hackathon 2026, organised by the ECOWAS Commission and Ghana's Cyber Security Authority in Accra, securing the $10,000 grand prize. The four-day event brought together cybersecurity professionals from 12 ECOWAS member states who developed solutions to regional cybersecurity challenges including ransomware, phishing, and fraud.
14 June 2026 · Joy Online →
Vice President Naana Jane Opoku-Agyemang opened a two-day ECOWAS Rice Investment Roundtable in Accra, calling on West Africa to view rice farming as a strategic economic asset focused on youth, incomes and economic resilience. She noted that the region spends more than $50 billion annually on food imports, with rice accounting for a significant portion, despite possessing fertile land, water resources and entrepreneurial farmers.
3 June 2026 · The Ghanaian Times →
Vice President Professor Jane Naana Opoku-Agyemang has called on African countries to take greater control of their food systems by investing strategically in agriculture, reducing dependence on food imports and strengthening regional cooperation. She noted that Africa spends more than US$50 billion annually on food imports despite having fertile land and abundant water resources, and stressed that transforming agriculture into a modern commercial industry is essential for job creation and economic growth.
3 June 2026 · The Chronicle →
The ECOWAS Commission President warned that West Africa's dependence on imported rice threatens food sovereignty, noting that despite a 44 percent increase in regional rice production between 2008 and 2024, demand still outstrips local supply. He urged governments and investors to accelerate efforts towards rice self-sufficiency and develop regional value chains to create jobs and strengthen economic resilience.
2 June 2026 · Joy Online →
Ghana's government announced a new policy requiring rice importers to demonstrate verifiable partnerships with local rice producers before receiving import permits, aiming to accelerate progress toward self-sufficiency and reduce the import bill.
2 June 2026 · Joy Online →