Ghana Hosts ECOWAS 50th Anniversary Inter Schools Debate, Rechoes Founding Vision.
By Raymond Enoch
In a vibrant celebration of regional unity and youth empowerment, Ghana’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Regional Integration on May 30, 2025, hosted the Third Inter-Schools Debate to commemorate the 50th Anniversary of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS).
Held in Accra, the event convened brilliant students from five high schools across the country to engage in robust intellectual exchanges on ECOWAS’s role and relevance in today’s West Africa. Topics ranged from the bloc’s contributions to peace and security, promotion of democratic governance, the state of intra-regional trade, and the far-reaching implications of the Alliance of Sahel States (AES) withdrawal on ECOWAS’s integration agenda.
In his opening address, the ECOWAS Resident Representative in Ghana, Ambassador Mohammed Lawan Gana, underscored the significance of youth engagement in shaping the future of the sub-region. He noted that young people are central to ECOWAS’s evolving vision — a shift from an “ECOWAS of States” to an “ECOWAS of People” — and are being empowered through targeted programmes and platforms such as the Inter-Schools Debate.
The debate not only deepened students’ understanding of West African regional dynamics but also served as a forum to cultivate critical thinking, public speaking, and informed civic engagement among the youth.
The initiative aligns with the broader objectives of ECOWAS at 50 — reflecting on past achievements, addressing present challenges, and charting a people-centered path for the future.
