As part of Ghana’s contribution to the 50th golden anniversary of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS), former President John Dramani Mahama has announced a significant educational initiative aimed at deepening regional integration. Ghana will provide 1,000 tertiary education scholarships to students from member states across the ECOWAS sub-region.
President Mahama made the announcement during the official launch of the ECOWAS @50 celebration, held in Accra on Tuesday, April 22. Speaking at the event, he emphasized the importance of fostering strong regional ties through education and collaboration among young people from the West African community.
“Ghana is offering a thousand scholarships to tertiary students from across the ECOWAS sub-region to study in our universities,” he stated, to warm applause from dignitaries and stakeholders present.
He noted that the initiative is “not just a gesture”, but a meaningful “act of solidarity” aimed at nurturing a new generation of West Africans who view each other as allies rather than strangers. Mahama elaborated on the intent behind the scholarship programme, describing it as “a brace to a future where our young people will grow seeing each other not as foreigners but as partners.”
The scholarships are expected to be available for various academic disciplines at public and private universities across Ghana, fostering a sense of unity through education and people-to-people engagement.
Mahama’s announcement comes as part of broader efforts to reinvigorate ECOWAS’s founding values, especially at a time when the regional bloc has faced challenges ranging from political instability to economic setbacks in member countries.
“Ghana reaffirms its unwavering commitment to the ECOWAS vision,” President Mahama said. “And to the values of dialogue, peace, and partnership that sustain it.”
The scholarship programme is seen as a forward-looking initiative that aligns with ECOWAS’s goals of fostering economic cooperation, cultural exchange, and regional mobility. It underscores Ghana’s leadership role in championing African unity and promoting long-term solutions through youth empowerment.
Educational stakeholders across the region have welcomed the move, seeing it as a strategic investment in regional development. Many believe that this step will not only support students academically but also promote greater intercultural understanding and collaboration among future leaders in West Africa.
As ECOWAS marks 50 years of existence, Ghana’s scholarship initiative stands out as a concrete contribution to the bloc’s legacy—a legacy of cooperation, peacebuilding, and development, rooted in shared values and a shared destiny.
The scholarship details, including application procedures and eligibility criteria, are expected to be released by the Ministry of Education and the Ghana Scholarships Secretariat in the coming weeks
