President Mahama Endorsed as ECOWAS Sole Candidate for AU Chairmanship in 2027 | By Dominick Andoh
Accra, Ghana — Ghana’s President, John Dramani Mahama, has been unanimously endorsed by the ECOWAS Council of Ministers as the sole West African candidate for the Chairpersonship of the African Union (AU) when the rotating leadership position returns to the region in 2027.
The decision was taken during the Council’s high-level meeting in Abuja, Nigeria, and is expected to be formally adopted by the Authority of ECOWAS Heads of State and Government at their next session on Sunday.
Ghana’s Minister for Foreign Affairs and Regional Integration, Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa, announced the development in a post on X, expressing the government’s appreciation for the regional bloc’s overwhelming support. He described the endorsement as a significant vote of confidence in President Mahama’s Pan-African vision and leadership credentials.
“Ghana is exceedingly grateful to ECOWAS for the confidence and support it has shown in our beloved, visionary, and Pan-African President, H.E. John Dramani Mahama. Ghana shall keep making Africa proud,” Ablakwa stated.
The endorsement marks a major diplomatic win for Ghana, positioning President Mahama as the frontrunner to lead the AU Commission, one of the most influential political and administrative bodies on the continent.
The AU Chairperson oversees the implementation of continental policies, coordinates with global partners, and guides Africa’s collective development agenda, including security, aviation, trade, digital transformation, and free movement.
President Mahama’s candidacy is expected to benefit from his extensive experience in governance, conflict resolution, regional integration, and infrastructure development.
As a former Chair of ECOWAS, Mahama played key roles in mediating political crises in West Africa, strengthening democratic transitions, and supporting regional economic and aviation-sector reforms.
His endorsement also aligns with Ghana’s broader diplomatic posture, which has consistently emphasized multilateral cooperation, continental integration, and improved connectivity across Africa, an area of particular relevance to the aviation sector.
The AU’s ongoing initiatives to advance the Single African Air Transport Market (SAATM), modernize air infrastructure, and harmonize aviation safety frameworks could receive renewed momentum under Mahama’s potential leadership.
The ECOWAS decision arrives at a time when regional unity and coordinated policy implementation are critical to addressing economic pressures, security challenges, and the high cost of air travel within West Africa.
With President Mahama’s endorsement, West Africa is signaling a unified stance ahead of the AU’s selection process.
President Mahama Endorsed as ECOWAS Sole Candidate for AU Chairmanship in 2027
