ECOWAS ministers have unanimously endorsed Ghana’s President John Dramani Mahama as West Africa’s candidate for chairperson of the African Union in 2027, following their 95th ordinary session in Abuja.
The recommendation will go to the Authority of Heads of State and Government for adoption, expected in Abuja on December 14, 2025. The move signals early regional coordination ahead of the AU’s annual leadership handover cycle. The endorsement was reported by Ghana’s state and private media after the ministerial meeting.
Ghana’s Foreign Affairs Minister welcomed the decision. “Ghana is exceedingly grateful to ECOWAS for the confidence and support,” said Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa.
Continental role and policy leverage
The AU defines the position clearly. “The office of the Chair of the African Union is held for a period for one year by a Head of State or Government,” the AU Chairperson page notes.
The current chair, Angola’s President João Lourenço, assumed the role in February 2025 on behalf of Southern Africa, reinforcing the rotational pattern across regions. A West African chair in 2027 would give ECOWAS a year to shape top table priorities on cross‑border infrastructure, trade corridors, energy integration, and climate finance. That timing aligns with ongoing AU efforts to mobilize capital for projects under its long‑running infrastructure framework. (au.int)
Corridor and power pool priorities
A 2027 West African chair would likely focus on delivery milestones for the Abidjan Lagos Corridor and linked logistics upgrades across ports and borders. The corridor is an ECOWAS flagship that connects five member states and anchors a wider coastal network, with project preparation led by the Commission and national agencies.
Progress on one‑stop border posts, PPP structuring, and standards harmonisation will be central to unlocking private capital and reducing freight times. Advancing grid stability through the West African Power Pool and cross‑border transmission links could also gain prominence under AU‑ECOWAS coordination.
With ECOWAS ministers closing ranks behind Ghana’s president, the path to 2027 is set, though not automatic. The AU Assembly will still complete its internal consultation and election process at the time.
A West African chair would arrive as AfCFTA implementation deepens and as the AU refines bankability for a pipeline of cross‑border assets. Policy continuity between ECOWAS and the AU could help standardise permitting, procurement, and safeguards, which often delay projects. If adopted by leaders, the endorsement positions Mahama to convene partners around financing and delivery of regional infrastructure in 2027.