The Council of Ministers of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS), at its 95th ordinary session held in Abuja, Nigeria, on 12 December 2025, has decided to support the candidature of Ghana for the position of African Union (AU) chairmanship.
The Chairperson of the African Union is selected by the Assembly following consultations by Member States. The office of the Chair of the African Union is held for a period of one year by a Head of State or Government. The current Chairperson of the African Union is H.E. João Goncalves Lourenço, President of the Republic of Angola.
The rotational position is due to fall in West Africa for the 2027-2028 period. It will be recalled that Ghana last held the position from January 2007 to January 2008, under former President John Kufuor.
In a communiqué issued in Abuja, Nigeria, dated 12 December 2025 and signed by H.E. Alhaji Musa Timothy Kabba, the Council Chairman, the body urged all ECOWAS member states to support the candidacy as well.
“Mindful of the ECOWAS Revised Treaty as amended, particularly Articles 10, 11, and 12, establishing the Council of Ministers and defining its composition and functions;
“Considering the request of the Government of Ghana for the support of Member States for the candidacy of the Republic of Ghana to the Chairmanship of the African Union in 2027;
“Considering also that the Republic of Ghana is an important ECOWAS Member State and contributes to its international standing;
“Considering further the need to maintain and increase the chances of ECOWAS occupying positions in regional and international organisations;
“Determined to work in a concerted manner to support the candidacies of ECOWAS Member States or their nationals in international organizations, including the African Union, to ensure that the interests of ECOWAS continue to be promoted and protected;
“Desiring to adopt a common position for effective support and voting in favour of the election of the Republic of Ghana to the Chairmanship of the African Union in 2027.
“Recommends that the Authority of Heads of State and Government adopt the Declaration of Support for the Candidacy of the Republic of Ghana to the Chairmanship of the African Union for the year 2027,” the communiqué read.
The African Union (AU) is a continental body consisting of the 55 member states that make up the countries of the African Continent. It was officially launched in 2002 as a successor to the Organisation of African Unity (OAU, 1963-1999).
In May 1963, 32 Heads of independent African States met in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, to sign the Charter creating Africa’s first post-independence continental institution, the Organisation of African Unity (OAU).
The OAU was the manifestation of the pan-African vision for an Africa that was united, free and in control of its own destiny and this was solemnised in the OAU Charter in which the founding fathers recognised that freedom, equality, justice and dignity were essential objectives for the achievement of the legitimate aspirations of the African peoples and that there was a need to promote understanding among Africa’s peoples and foster cooperation among African states in response to the aspirations of Africans for brother-hood and solidarity, in a larger unity transcending ethnic and national Differences.
The guiding philosophy was that of Pan-Africanism, which centred on African socialism and promoted African unity, the communal characteristics and practices of African communities, and a drive to embrace Africa’s culture and common heritage.
The African Union (AU) was officially launched in July 2002 in Durban, South Africa, following a decision in September 1999 by its predecessor, the OAU to create a new continental organisation to build on its work.
The decision to re-launch Africa’s pan-African organisation was the outcome of a consensus by African leaders that to realise Africa’s potential, there was a need to refocus attention from the fight for decolonisation and ridding the continent of apartheid, which had been the focus of the OAU, towards increased cooperation and integration of African states to drive Africa’s growth and economic development.
The AU is guided by its vision of “An Integrated, Prosperous and Peaceful Africa, driven by its own citizens and representing a dynamic force in the global arena.”
