The Member of Parliament for Bosome Freho, Nana Asafo-Adjei Ayeh, has accused Foreign Affairs Minister Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa of sacrificing Ghana’s bid for the Presidency of the ECOWAS Commission in exchange for what he described as a “predetermined” African Union chairmanship for President John Dramani Mahama in 2027.
In a press release, the Deputy Ranking Member on Parliament’s Foreign Affairs Committee alleged that the Minister ceded Ghana’s right to occupy the ECOWAS Commission presidency in return for what he termed a “so-called unanimous endorsement” by West African leaders backing President Mahama as sole candidate for Chairperson of the African Union (AU) in 2027.
According to Mr Asafo-Adjei Ayeh, Ghana did not need to negotiate for the AU position, arguing that the process had already been set in motion during the administration of former President Nana Akufo-Addo.
He contended that President Mahama’s ascension to the AU Chairmanship in 2027 was effectively predetermined following Ghana’s election to the Bureau of the Assembly of the AU in 2024.
Explaining the rotational arrangement, he stated that Ghana moved from Third Vice Chairperson in 2024 to Second Vice Chairperson in 2025, and then to First Vice Chairperson at the February 2026 AU Summit.
“It is therefore automatic that in 2027, Ghana will move up the Bureau from 1st Vice Chairperson to the substantive Chairperson of the AU,” he said.
Mr Asafo-Adjei Ayeh described the alleged decision as a diplomatic miscalculation, insisting that Ghana could have secured both the ECOWAS Commission presidency and the AU Chairmanship.
“But for the Minister’s lack of understanding of the institutional processes of ECOWAS and the AU, Ghana would have secured both positions,” he concluded.
