President John Dramani Mahama has announced a major education initiative aimed at deepening regional integration across West Africa.
Ghana will provide 1,000 university scholarships to students from ECOWAS member states, offering them the opportunity to study in Ghanaian institutions.
The announcement came during the official launch of the ECOWAS 50th anniversary celebrations held in Accra on Tuesday, April 22, 2025.
The event, themed “Celebrating 50 Years of West African Unity and Integration,” gathered leaders, officials, and ECOWAS representatives to reflect on the bloc’s legacy and future.
President Mahama emphasized that the scholarships are a concrete step toward building stronger connections among West African youth.
“This is not just a gesture of goodwill,” he said. “It is a meaningful investment in the future of our region—where young people see each other not as strangers, but as collaborators and friends.”
He noted that regional diplomacy should go beyond conflict resolution to include initiatives that foster peace, opportunity, and shared development.
“Our drive for integration must expand into education, healthcare, and cultural cooperation,” he added.
The scholarship programme will be run in collaboration with Ghana’s public universities and overseen by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Regional Integration.
It aims to offer students exposure to diverse cultures, academic excellence, and a sense of shared identity.
As ECOWAS marks its 50th year since its founding in 1975, President Mahama urged leaders to focus on people-centered policies that benefit citizens—particularly the younger generation, whom he described as “the key to our collective future.”
