Tinubu urges ECOWAS leaders to take inspiration from Ghana’s recent election
By Kunle Sanni
President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has urged West African leaders to take inspiration from Ghana’s recent peaceful elections, highlighting the country as a beacon of democratic maturity and unity.
Speaking at the opening of the 66th Ordinary Session of the ECOWAS Authority of Heads of State and Government on Sunday in Abuja, President Tinubu lauded Ghana’s political landscape for its exemplary democratic practices.
He praised the recent presidential and parliamentary elections, which saw Vice President Mahamudu Bawumia of the ruling New Patriotic Party concede defeat to President-elect John Dramani Mahama of the opposition National Democratic Congress, even before official results were announced.
“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,” he stated.
“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.
“This gesture, as it happened in Nigeria in 2015, demonstrates political maturity and respect for the will of the people of Ghana.
President Tinubu praised President Akufo-Addo for his exceptional leadership and unwavering commitment to ECOWAS during his two-year term, describing him as a formidable Pan-Africanist.
President Tinubu also congratulated the Government and people of Senegal on their successful parliamentary elections.
He praised Ghana’s Foreign Minister, Shirley Ayokor Botchwey, for painstakingly leading the ECOWAS Ministerial Committee of the Reform.
He wished her a successful tenure in her new role as the Secretary General of the Commonwealth.
