By Kolawole Ojebisi
President Bola Tinubu has lauded his Ghanian counterpart, Nana Akufo-Addo and citizens of his country, for the resounding success of their recent presidential and parliamentary elections.
Tinubu noted that the electoral success has set a high standard for the region.
This is as Tinubu urged other leaders in West Africa to draw inspiration from Ghana’s recent peaceful elections stressing that it’s a model of democratic maturity and commitment to national unity.
This is contained in a statement issued by the President’s Special Adviser on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga.
According to the statement, Tinubu spoke at the opening of the 66th Ordinary Session of ECOWAS on Sunday in Abuja.
“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. ” Tinubu added.
The statement added that 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.
He also congratulated the Government and people of Senegal on their successful parliamentary elections.
In a similar vein, the president of Nigeria praised Ghana’s Foreign Minister, Shirley Ayokor Botchwey, for painstakingly leading the ECOWAS Ministerial Committee on the Reform.
He wished her a successful tenure in her new role as the Secretary General of the Commonwealth.
Currently in his second term as ECOWAS Chair, Tinubu also highlighted achievements from his first term, 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.
“Similarly, regional infrastructure projects such as the West African Gas Pipeline, the West Africa Power Pool, and modernising key border posts with advanced equipment and joint border operations utilising state-of-the-art technology have significantly enhanced connectivity and promoted greater regional integration.
“Furthermore, our efforts in stabilising our region through peacekeeping missions currently in the Gambia and Guinea Bissau, as well as previous operations in Liberia and Sierra Leone, have demonstrated our capacity to act decisively in the face of adversity.
As ECOWAS nears its 50th anniversary in 2025, Tinubu urged member states to recommit to the bloc’s founding ideals of economic integration, peace, and prosperity.
“As leaders, we know that security is not a luxury but a necessity. Equally, enhancing the living standards of our people is not an aspiration but an obligation,” he said.
The President of the ECOWAS Commission, Dr Omar Touray, commended Nigeria for paying 100 per cent of its community levy for 2023 and substantial remittances for 2024, reflecting Nigeria’s leadership and commitment under President Tinubu.
“For the first time in 19 years, Nigeria has paid 100% of its community levy from 2023. I’m therefore pleased to announce that on Friday, December 13, 2024, Nigeria paid N85 billion and $54 million, representing 100% of the 2023 levy and the 2024 levy up to July 2024.
“We all agree that this payment underscores the leadership and commitment of President Tinubu, the government and the people of Nigeria to our community. At a more personal level, it represents confidence in the management I have been privileged to lead since 2022.
He encouraged other member states to meet their financial commitments diligently.
