Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS ) will begin its 50th anniversary celebrations on Tuesday, April 22, 2025, in Accra, Ghana.

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According to a statement from the ECOWAS Commission, the event will be attended by Heads of State and Government, along with other dignitaries and Ministers.

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The celebrations will include the unveiling of the ECOWAS Golden Jubilee logo and theme, with artistic performances highlighting the organization's rich history and accomplishments. This launch marks the start of a year-long series of events across Member States, a programme that was approved during a February 2025 meeting of the ECOWAS Administrative and Financial Committee.

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Founded on May 28, 1975, in Lagos, Nigeria, ECOWAS aimed to foster economic integration and self-reliance among West African countries. While initially formed by 15 nations, the bloc saw Cabo Verde join in 1977, and Mauritania withdraw in 2000, though it signed an association agreement in 2017. In January 2025, Burkina Faso, Mali, and Niger also withdrew from ECOWAS.

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Current Member States include Benin, Cabo Verde, Côte d’Ivoire, The Gambia, Ghana, Guinea-Bissau, Liberia, Nigeria, Senegal, Sierra Leone, and Togo. The organization, regarded as a cornerstone of the African Economic Community, promotes regional cooperation in various sectors, including transport, energy, agriculture, and trade, contributing to a collective GDP of $734.8 billion.

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To strengthen leadership and oversight, ECOWAS restructured its Secretariat into a Commission in 2007, which is led by a President, Vice-President, five Commissioners, and an Auditor General.

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The organization is funded primarily through a 0.5% community levy on imports from non-Member States. Its core programmes focus on enhancing regional integration, eliminating barriers, and advancing its 2050 vision of transforming from an “ECOWAS of States” to an “ECOWAS of Peoples,” dedicated to peace and shared prosperity.

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