ECOWAS Council of Ministers Endorses President Mahama as Sole Candidate for AU Chairmanship in 2027
The ECOWAS Council of Ministers has unanimously endorsed President John Dramani Mahama as the sub-region’s sole candidate for the Chairperson of the African Union (AU) when West Africa’s turn arrives in 2027.
The endorsement was issued at the Ninety-Fifth Ordinary Session of the Council of Ministers held in Abuja on December 12, 2025, where the Ministers adopted Recommendation C/REC.1/12/25 titled; “On the Support of the Candidacy of the Republic of Ghana to the Chairmanship of the African Union.”
In the recommendation, the Council acknowledged Ghana’s longstanding contributions to the regional body, stating that the Republic of Ghana “is an important ECOWAS Member State and contributes to its international standing.”
The Ministers also emphasized the need for strong regional representation at international bodies, noting “the need to maintain and increase the chances of ECOWAS occupying positions in regional and international organisations.”
The Council further pledged coordinated support for Ghana’s bid, saying it was “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, in order to ensure that the interests of ECOWAS continue to be promoted and protected.”
Reaffirming the need for a unified position, the document added that ECOWAS was “desiring to adopt a common position for effective support and voting in favor of the election of the Republic of Ghana to the Chairmanship of the African Union in 2027.”
The recommendation was signed by the Chair of the Council, H.E. Alhaji Musa Timothy Kabba, who formally presented the Council’s stance ahead of the upcoming ECOWAS Authority Summit.
The Authority of Heads of State and Government is expected to consider the declaration of support on Sunday, which would make President Mahama the officially backed ECOWAS candidate for the 2027 AU Chairmanship.
