ECOWAS Heads of State and Government have unanimously endorsed Ghana’s President John Dramani Mahama as West Africa’s sole candidate for the African Union Chairmanship in 2027. The decision was taken at a high-level summit of the regional bloc.

The endorsement follows an earlier unanimous recommendation by ECOWAS Foreign Affairs Ministers during the bloc’s 68th Ordinary Summit held in Abuja, Nigeria. It aligns with the African Union’s rotational system, which gives West Africa the opportunity to present a candidate for the position.

ECOWAS leaders say the choice reflects strong confidence in President Mahama’s diplomatic credentials, particularly his experience in mediation, peacebuilding, and advancing regional integration across Africa.

Speaking to journalists after the summit at the Presidential Villa in Abuja, ECOWAS Commission President Omar Alieu Touray described the endorsement as a clear signal of unity and trust in Mahama’s leadership at the continental level.