President John Dramani Mahama has announced that Ghana will offer 1,000 scholarships to university students from across the ECOWAS sub-region, as part of efforts to strengthen regional ties through education and shared experiences.

The announcement was made at the launch of the 50th anniversary celebrations of ECOWAS in Accra on Tuesday [April 22, 2025].

The event, held on the theme: “Celebrating 50 Years of West African Unity and Integration”, brought together heads of state, senior government officials, and representatives of the ECOWAS Commission.

“To mark this moment and strengthen regional bonds, Ghana is offering a thousand scholarships to tertiary students from across the ECOWAS sub-region to study in our universities,” Mr Mahama said.

He described the initiative as a practical step towards building unity among West African youth.

“This is not just a gesture,” he said. “It is a bridge to a future where our young people will grow up seeing each other not as foreigners but as partners.”

Mr Mahama stressed that diplomacy should not be limited to resolving disputes but must also include creating conditions for peace, inclusion and progress. He called for greater investment in youth and education as a means of strengthening regional ties.

“Our drive for integration through diplomacy must extend to economic, social and cultural areas,” he said. “Whether it is harmonising trade negotiations or advancing cooperation in education and health, our diplomatic tools must always work in the service of our people.”

The scholarship programme is expected to be implemented in partnership with Ghana’s public universities and coordinated by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Regional Integration.

ECOWAS, established in 1975, was formed to promote economic cooperation and political coordination among West African states. As the community marks its 50th anniversary, Mr Mahama urged leaders to take practical steps to make the regional bloc more relevant to citizens, especially the youth.