Tinubu to ECOWAS leaders: Let’s learn from Ghana’s elections

President Bola Tinubu has urged West African leaders to draw inspiration from Ghana’s recent “peaceful” elections as a model of democratic maturity and commitment to national unity.

Tinubu made the call while speaking at the opening of the 66th Ordinary Session of ECOWAS in Abuja on Sunday, December 15, 2024.

Tinubu, who is ECOWAS leader, lauded President Nana Akufo-Addo and the people of Ghana for the success of their recent presidential and parliamentary elections, saying this set a high standard for the country.

He stated: “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.

“Despite the challenges of interrupted democratic governance in some West African countries, the region has continued to record democratic gains. Just a week ago, on December 7 2024, Presidential and Parliamentary elections took place in Ghana, the second-largest democracy in our region.

“One of the leading candidates who happens to be the incumbent Vice President, His Excellency Mahamudu Bawumia, together with the leadership of the ruling party, New Patriotic Party (NPP), conceded defeat and accepted the outcome of the Presidential election by congratulating the President-elect, His Excellency, John Dramani Mahama of National Democratic Congress (NDC) for his victory, even before the official announcement of the election results.

Tinubu: We’ll handle return of Mali, Niger, Burkina Faso with diplomacy

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

Tinubu commended President Akufo-Addo for his “exceptional leadership and unwavering commitment” to ECOWAS, describing him as “a formidable Pan-Africanist”.

Tinubu also congratulated the government and the people of Senegal on the country’s parliamentary elections.

The president further highlighted achievements from his first term as ECOWAS chairman, including strides in regional integration, economic growth, conflict resolution, and counterterrorism efforts.

He said the ECOWAS Trade Liberalisation Scheme (ETLS) and Common External Tariff (CET) have strengthened trade and economic cooperation.

The Presidents of Cote d’Ivoire, Ghana, Gambia, Guinea Bissau, Liberia, and Senegal attended in person alongside the Vice President of Sierra Leone, the Finance Minister of the Benin Republic, the Minister of foreign affairs of Togo, and the Ambassador of Cape Verde to Nigeria.

The Star