The ECOWAS Council of Ministers in Abuja has unanimously endorsed President John Dramani Mahama as West Africa’s candidate for the African Union Chairmanship in 2027, giving Ghana full backing from its regional peers.
The endorsement, announced by Minister of Foreign Affairs Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa, comes as part of a broader effort by the new administration to strengthen Ghana’s international profile and rebuild ties with regional partners. Minister Ablakwa said.
“Ghana is exceedingly grateful to ECOWAS for the confidence and support for our beloved visionary and Pan-African President, H.E. John Dramani Mahama. Ghana shall keep making Africa proud.” He added that the Authority of Heads of State and Government is expected to adopt the declaration formally on Sunday, which will cement Ghana’s bid.
This reflects President Mahama’s strategy to position Ghana as a bridge-builder in West Africa. Since returning to office in January 2025, Mahama has actively sought to strengthen bilateral relations, including reaching out to countries that recently left ECOWAS to form the Alliance of Sahel States. He extended invitations to leaders such as Captain Ibrahim Traoré to his swearing-in ceremony, demonstrating Ghana’s commitment to inclusion and reconciliation.
President Mahama’s growing diplomatic stature has also been evident on the international stage. In September 2025, he addressed the 80th Session of the United Nations General Assembly in New York, where he declared, “The future is African,” emphasizing the continent’s demographic and economic potential in the coming decades. During the address, Mahama called for structural reforms at the UN, including permanent African representation on the Security Council, and urged a fairer global financial system that supports development in African countries.
The speech received praise from seasoned diplomats, including Dr. Mohamed Ibn Chambas, who described it as “eloquently and very well delivered… it ticked all the boxes,” reflecting recognition of Ghana’s constructive voice in global affairs. This international endorsement underscores the reasoning behind ECOWAS’s backing, highlighting Mahama’s credibility not just regionally, but also on the continental and global stage.
