ECOWAS Commission slot traded for AU Chairmanship — Nana Asafo-Adjei Ayeh alleges

The Member of Parliament for Bosome Freho, Nana Asafo-Adjei Ayeh, has accused the Minister for Foreign Affairs, Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa, of undermining Ghana’s strategic interests within the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) by allegedly relinquishing the country’s opportunity to head the ECOWAS Commission.

In a strongly worded press statement, the Deputy Ranking Member on Parliament’s Foreign Affairs Committee claimed the Minister “sacrificed Ghana’s legitimacy to occupy the four-year term position of the Presidency of the ECOWAS Commission” in pursuit of a one-year African Union (AU) Chairmanship for President John Mahama.

According to him, the alleged arrangement involved ceding Ghana’s claim to the ECOWAS Commission Presidency in return for what he described as a “so-called unanimous endorsement” by ECOWAS Heads of State to back President Mahama as West Africa’s sole candidate for AU Chairperson in 2027.

Mr. Asafo-Adjei Ayeh argued that the move was unnecessary, insisting that Ghana’s path to the AU Chairmanship had already been secured through its position within the AU Bureau.

“Ghana did not need any form of deal-cutting or endorsement from ECOWAS Presidents to secure the position,” he stated.

He concluded that the decision had cost Ghana a major leadership opportunity in the sub-region, warning that the long-term diplomatic and institutional implications could weaken the country’s influence within ECOWAS.