President Joseph Nyuma Boakai, Sr., has joined fellow West African leaders in signing a historic declaration marking the 50th anniversary of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS), reaffirming Liberia’s unwavering dedication to the organization’s founding principles and future aspirations.
The ceremony, held on May 28 at the Nigerian Institute of International Affairs (NIIA) in Victoria Island, where ECOWAS was first established in 1975, brought together Heads of State and Government to celebrate five decades of regional solidarity and cooperation.
In a powerful show of unity, the leaders endorsed a new vision under ECOWAS Vision 2050, a forward-looking strategy aimed at deepening integration and promoting peace, democracy, and development across the sub-region.
The Declaration of the Heads of State and Government on the ECOWAS 50th Anniversary emphasized several key commitments:
Reinforcing peace, security, democratic governance, and the rule of law; Strengthening economic integration, trade, and regional infrastructure; Combating terrorism, violent extremism, climate change, and youth unemployment; Empowering citizens, civil society, youth and women’s groups, the private sector, and traditional leaders to actively shape a people-centered ECOWAS.
President Boakai, representing Liberia, emphasized the country’s continued dedication to the bloc, stating:
“Regional solidarity is the backbone of West Africa’s stability and development. We stand united with our neighbors to deepen cooperation, safeguard democratic values, and secure a prosperous future for our people.”
He praised ECOWAS’s achievements in promoting regional peace, facilitating democratic transitions, and ensuring the free movement of people and goods. The Liberian leader also stressed the importance of collective action in addressing emerging threats and sustaining progress.
The event held special historical significance, as it took place at the same venue where ECOWAS was born five decades ago. Among the dignitaries present was General Yakubu Gowon, Nigeria’s former Head of State and the only surviving founding father of ECOWAS, who witnessed the symbolic reenactment of the treaty signing.
The declaration was formally signed in English, French, and Portuguese, ECOWAS’s official languages, by all Member States, including Nigeria, Ghana, Liberia, Senegal, Côte d’Ivoire, Sierra Leone, Guinea, The Gambia, Togo, Benin, Cabo Verde, and Guinea-Bissau.
As ECOWAS enters its sixth decade, the Golden Jubilee serves as both a moment of reflection and a call to action, urging leaders and citizens alike to build a stronger, more integrated, and more inclusive West Africa under the guiding principles of Vision 2050.
