President Bola Tinubu has praised the democratic process in Ghana, calling it a model for the region to follow. President Tinubu disclosed this during his opening speech as the ECOWAS Chairman at the 66th Ordinary Session of the ECOWAS Authority of Heads of State and Government held in Abuja, he highlighted the successful presidential and parliamentary elections in Ghana, where former President John Mahama of the National Democratic Congress (NDC) emerged victorious over the incumbent Vice President Mahamud Bawumia of the New Patriotic Party (NPP).
Tinubu specifically lauded the political maturity shown by Mahamud Bawumia, who congratulated Mahama even before the official results were announced, demonstrating a commitment to democratic principles and the will of the people. This act, Tinubu noted, mirrored Nigeria’s 2015 election where the incumbent President, Goodluck Jonathan, graciously conceded defeat.
He referred to Ghana’s President Nana Akufo-Addo as “Mr. Democrat” and extended congratulations to him and the people of Ghana for the peaceful and successful election. Tinubu encouraged all ECOWAS nations to learn from Ghana’s example, emphasizing the importance of national unity and political stability for the betterment of the region. He stressed that such peaceful transitions of power should be a hallmark of West African democracies and the African continent as a whole.
In addition to praising Ghana, Tinubu also commended Senegal for the successful conduct of its recent parliamentary elections. He reiterated the need for cooperation among ECOWAS member states in ensuring the well-being and protection of citizens, emphasizing that improving living standards is a shared responsibility of both governments and citizens.
The session concluded with the meeting going into a closed-door session after the speeches.
