President John Dramani Mahama has emerged as the sole candidate of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) for the 2027 Chairmanship of the African Union.
The decision was reached after the ECOWAS Council of Ministers, meeting in Abuja, Nigeria, unanimously resolved to back President Mahama as the sub-region’s official nominee. The ministers agreed that he should be presented as ECOWAS’s single candidate when the rotational leadership of the African Union returns to West Africa.
The chairmanship of the African Union rotates annually among the continent’s five geographical regions. The current position is held by President João Manuel Gonçalves Lourenço of Angola, who assumed office in February 2025 as Southern Africa’s representative and is serving a one-year term.
In supporting President Mahama’s nomination, the Council cited his leadership credentials as well as Ghana’s strategic importance within ECOWAS, noting the country’s longstanding contributions to regional stability and its strong profile on the international stage.
The ministers further observed that rallying behind a single candidate would strengthen ECOWAS’s chances of securing high-level representation and influence within continental and global institutions.
The Council’s endorsement will now be submitted to the Authority of Heads of State and Government, which is expected to formally adopt the recommendation at its meeting scheduled for Sunday.
