President John Dramani Mahama has described the recent wave of military coups in West Africa as an “economic emergency” that undermined the region’s growth prospects.
Speaking through Ghana’s Finance Minister at the West Africa Economic Summit (WAES) in Abuja on Saturday, President Mahama warned that economic integration and trade cannot thrive in an atmosphere of political instability.
“Trade cannot flourish where democracy is in retreat. Investment does not land where governance is broken.
“The recent wave of instability and military takeovers in our region is not just a security concern—it is an economic emergency. We must defend democracy as a prerequisite for prosperity.
“Let West African leaders recommit to constitutional order not as an abstract ideal, but as a practical requirement for growth. We cannot unlock trade while our region is locked in conflict,” Mahama was quoted as saying.
He emphasised that trade and economic integration could thrive in an atmosphere of political instability.
Mahama called for the creation of an ECOWAS Charter on Democratic Stability and Economic Development, linking good governance with access to regional investment support.
Recalled that in January 2025, ECOWAS formally acknowledged the withdrawal of Niger, Mali, and Burkina Faso—now members of the Alliance of Sahel States—following tensions rooted in the 2023 Niger coup.
To this end, Mahama called for the creation of an ECOWAS Charter on Democratic Stability and Economic Development, linking good governance with access to regional investment support.
The president urged leaders to recommit to constitutional order as a practical foundation for development, rather than merely a political ideal.
In his remarks, President Bola Tinubu called for an end to the region’s reliance on exporting raw materials and urged nations to develop local manufacturing and regional value chains.
He emphasised the need to turn mineral wealth into domestic economic value, jobs, technology, and manufacturing.
President Tinubu extended invitations to the Alliance of Sahel States and Mauritania, emphasizing the region’s pursuit of inclusivity and reconciliation.
The summit aimed to deepen regional economic integration and drive trade and investment cooperation across West Africa.
The summit featured participation from heads of state, ministers, and stakeholders from regional economic institutions and the private sector.
