Heads of State and Government from the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) will gather in Accra, Ghana on 22 April 2025, to commence the golden jubilee celebrations of the organization. ECOWAS, established in Lagos, Nigeria on 28 May 1975, is noted for its effectiveness as a Regional Economic Community, having implemented numerous successful programs aimed at fostering regional integration and development across its Member States.
The launch event in Accra will commence on the morning of 22 April. It will feature a lineup of ceremonies including the unveiling of the ECOWAS Golden Jubilee logo and theme, along with various artistic and cultural displays. These performances will showcase the journey of ECOWAS from its founding in Lagos by the Founding Fathers, through its key reforms, to its significant achievements in the Member States.
A statement from ECOWAS recalls that “the ECOWAS Conference of Heads of State and Government had strongly recommended that the 50th anniversary of the institution be celebrated with great visibility in each Member State.” With this directive in mind, the ECOWAS Administrative and Financial Committee convened virtually in February 2025 to finalize the scheduled activities that will be carried out in each Member State over the year.
The golden jubilee launching in Accra marks the start of a year-long series of events scheduled to occur across capitals of ECOWAS Member States in 2025.
