As ECOWAS gears up for its 50th anniversary celebration in Accra, Selorm Kofi Dake, a member of the expert team behind the ECOWAS Vision 2020, has called on the regional bloc to reflect deeply on its current direction.
In an open letter to the Chair of the ECOWAS Commission, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, Dake expressed deep concern over what he described as a troubling trajectory marked by military coups, shrinking civic space, and eroding trust in leadership.
“The resurgence of unconstitutional changes of government, the narrowing of civic spaces, and the erosion of public trust in leadership are troubling developments. The recent withdrawal of Mali, Burkina Faso, and Niger from ECOWAS is emblematic of deeper systemic challenges that must be addressed with urgency and candor.”
He called on ECOWAS to use its golden jubilee not just for celebration, but for reflection and renewal, warning that the bloc risks losing touch with the people it was created to serve.
“History will not remember what we declare in Accra. It will remember what we choose to fix,” he cautioned.
Find below the open letter…
An Open Letter to the Chair of the ECOWAS Commission
Ahead of the ECOWAS at 50 Launch in Accra, Ghana
20th April 2025
Dear President Bola Ahmed Tinubu,
As ECOWAS commemorates its 50th anniversary, I write with a mixed sense of pride and profound concern. Pride—because I had the privilege of serving as a member of the expert team that developed the ECOWAS Vision 2020 blueprint in 2009, rooted in the aspiration for a united, democratic, and people-centered West Africa. Concern—because the current trajectory of our region raises urgent questions about the state of that vision.
The resurgence of unconstitutional changes of government, the narrowing of civic spaces, and the erosion of public trust in leadership are troubling developments. The recent withdrawal of Mali, Burkina Faso, and Niger from ECOWAS is emblematic of deeper systemic challenges that must be addressed with urgency and candor.
As you lead the Commission through this milestone, I respectfully urge that these celebrations also serve as a moment of reflection and renewal. Let ECOWAS at 50 become a pivotal juncture—a reaffirmation of our collective commitment to democratic governance, inclusive development, and regional solidarity. We need to arrest the pockets of violence and insecurity littered across volatile zones across the ECOWAS region. It is only through honest introspection and decisive action that we can rebuild confidence and foster a Community that genuinely responds to the aspirations of its people.
The youth of West Africa are observing with great expectation. History will judge our efforts not just by declarations made, but by the resolve we demonstrate in shaping a more just, inclusive and prosperous future for the benefit of the greatest majority of our people.
Long Live ECOWAS!
Long Live African Unity!
Yours sincerely,
Selorm Kofi Dake,
Member, ECOWAS Vision 2020 Experts Team (2009),
Accra.
+233-200010070
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