The Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) has endorsed Ghana's petition to the African Union (AU) seeking action over the recent xenophobic attacks on Ghanaians and other African nationals in South Africa.
President John Dramani Mahama welcomed the decision and urged African leaders not to allow intolerance to erode the continent's long-standing tradition of unity and solidarity.
Speaking at the 69th Ordinary Summit of the ECOWAS Authority of Heads of State and Government in Lungi, Sierra Leone, on July 19, 2026, President Mahama described the attacks as a threat to the ideals that shaped Africa's liberation struggle.
"African liberation was achieved through solidarity across our borders. We must never permit that proud legacy to be weakened by intolerance by a small group of people," he said.
President Mahama said Ghana remained concerned about the recent attacks in South Africa, which had claimed the lives of Africans, including Ghanaians and Nigerians, while leaving many others living in fear, intimidation and uncertainty.
"Ghana is deeply concerned about the recent incidents of xenophobic attacks against our citizens in South Africa, during which some Africans, including Ghanaians and Nigerian citizens, have lost their lives, while many other African nationals have experienced fear, intimidation and uncertainty," he said.
Welcoming the endorsement by ECOWAS, President Mahama said the regional bloc had agreed to support Ghana's petition for the matter to be considered at the next AU Mid-Year Summit.
"Ghana welcomes the decision of the Authority of Heads of State of ECOWAS to fully endorse and support Ghana's petition at the African Union for the matter to be addressed at the next AU Mid-Year Summit," he said.
The endorsement marks the first collective backing by ECOWAS Heads of State for Ghana's petition since the government requested African Union intervention over the attacks earlier this year.
Regional integration
President Mahama said the proposed ECOWAS Compact offered an opportunity to deepen regional integration, but added that the bloc's progress would depend on carrying out decisions that member states had already adopted.
"Over the past five decades, ECOWAS has adopted important treaties, protocols and decisions that have advanced regional integration. There is, therefore, the need for the effective implementation of all our decisions," he said.
Security
President Mahama said peace and security remained central to West Africa's development and warned that terrorism and violent extremism continued to threaten the sub-region.
"Without security, development would remain an illusion," he said.
He called for closer cooperation among ECOWAS, the African Union and other partners to address emerging security threats while maintaining dialogue across the sub-region.
Science and technology
President Mahama said science, technology, innovation and artificial intelligence would shape the region's future competitiveness.
"No nation can advance or be competitive in the current global world without investing in science and technology," he said.
He also urged governments to make democracy deliver real improvements in the lives of their citizens.
"Our citizens are tired of only being called up to vote every four or five years. They want to see the benefits of democracy, and it behoves our national leaders to make that happen," he said.
President Mahama said the future of ECOWAS would be measured by the effect of its decisions on ordinary people.
"The future of ECOWAS cannot be built exclusively within conference rooms. It must be built in our classrooms, on our farms, our factories, our research institutions, our innovation hubs, our marketplaces and our communities," he said.
New leadership
President Mahama said the appointment of a new President and Vice-President of the ECOWAS Commission comes at an important time for the regional bloc.
He said the incoming leadership would be expected to steer the implementation of the proposed ECOWAS Compact and respond to the political, security and economic challenges facing West Africa.
President Mahama reaffirmed Ghana's support for the ideals of ECOWAS and said the country would continue to work with member states, the Commission and development partners to promote peace, prosperity and regional integration across the sub-region.
