Mahama announces 1,000 Scholarships for ECOWAS Students

President John Dramani Mahama has announced that Ghana will offer 1,000 scholarships to tertiary students from across the ECOWAS sub-region to study in Ghanaian universities.
The initiative, he said, forms part of Ghana’s commitment to strengthening regional bonds as ECOWAS celebrates its Golden Jubilee.
“This is not just a gesture, it is an act of solidarity,” President Mahama declared at the launch of the ECOWAS@50 Anniversary Celebration in Accra.
“It is a bridge to a future where our young people grow up seeing each other not as foreigners, but as partners.”

A grand launch for a golden jubilee
The celebration, themed “Stronger Together for a Brighter Future”, brought together key dignitaries from across the region, including Liberian President Joseph Boakai, Togolese Prime Minister Victoire Tomegah Dogbé, Gambia’s Vice-President Muhammad B. S. Jallow, former Ghanaian President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo, and representatives from all 12 ECOWAS Member States.

President Mahama said the milestone anniversary is not only a celebration but also a moment for reflection and recommitment to the ideals that have guided ECOWAS over the past five decades—unity, peace, integration, and diplomacy.

Honouring a legacy of diplomacy and cooperation
“ECOWAS must remain a forum for listening. It must be a space for healing. A home for visionary African-led solidarity and diplomacy,” President Mahama stated.
He emphasized that the founding fathers of ECOWAS in 1975 deliberately chose cooperation over rivalry, aiming to build strong regional economies despite fragmented political landscapes.
From humble beginnings, ECOWAS has grown into a critical diplomatic and political force in Africa.
President Mahama cited the organization’s successful peacebuilding roles in Liberia, Sierra Leone, The Gambia, Côte d’Ivoire, and Togo as proof of “African solutions through African diplomacy.”

Addressing present challenges with dialogue
Mahama acknowledged current challenges facing the sub-region, including violent extremism, political instability, economic disparity, and climate threats, particularly in the Sahel.
“Our region is faced with a complex array of threats,” he said.
“In moments like these, diplomacy and solidarity must remain our first and strongest line of defense.”

He described the withdrawal of Mali, Burkina Faso, and Niger from ECOWAS as “regrettable,” but urged continued dialogue and engagement.
“We must respond not with isolation or recrimination, but with understanding, dialogue, and a willingness to listen and engage,” he stressed.

Diplomatic re-engagement with the Sahel
Highlighting Ghana’s active efforts to rebuild regional trust, President Mahama revealed that Ghana has appointed a special envoy to initiate high-level talks with the Alliance of Sahel States.
“I have personally led missions to foster trust, rebuild communication channels, and affirm our shared aspirations,” he said, reiterating Ghana’s belief in a shared destiny for the sub-region.

Regional leaders applaud Mahama’s Vision
President Mahama’s leadership drew high praise from fellow ECOWAS leaders.
In a speech delivered on behalf of Nigerian President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, Minister of State for Foreign Affairs Bianca Odumegwu-Ojukwu described Mahama’s commitment to integration and development as “a source of inspiration and strength.”
“Nigeria stands ready to collaborate with every nation, large or small, to build a resilient ECOWAS capable of confronting today’s challenges,” she added.

A time to reflect and recalibrate
Dr. Omar Alieu Touray, President of the ECOWAS Commission, noted that the 50th anniversary is an opportunity not only to celebrate achievements but to critically reflect and “recalibrate” the community’s direction for the future.
As the region looks ahead, the message from Accra was clear: unity, education, and diplomacy remain central pillars for building a stronger, more integrated West Africa.