Ghanaian President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo has expressed deep concern over the rising wave of unconstitutional changes in government across West Africa, warning that the surge in military takeovers poses a grave threat not only to democracy but also to the region’s already fragile economies. Speaking passionately during the 2025 West Africa Economic Summit in Accra, the Ghanaian leader did not mince words, describing the spate of coups as a full-blown “economic emergency” with far-reaching consequences for regional development and investor confidence.
President Akufo-Addo, who has been a consistent voice for democratic governance in the subregion, said the frequency of military interventions—seen in countries like Mali, Burkina Faso, Guinea, and more recently, Niger—has plunged West Africa into a period of uncertainty that risks reversing decades of economic and political progress. He noted that while each country’s circumstances are unique, the broader pattern reveals a dangerous erosion of democratic institutions and civic trust, which ultimately undermines regional cooperation and economic integration.
According to the Ghanaian president, instability has deterred foreign direct investment, disrupted cross-border trade, and strained already limited national budgets as countries divert scarce resources to manage security crises. He pointed out that ECOWAS, once seen as a stronghold of democratic transition and peaceful governance, is now being tested like never before. “We are witnessing a rollback of democratic gains at a time when we should be consolidating institutions and delivering the dividends of peace and development to our people,” he warned.
Akufo-Addo also lamented the economic costs of these upheavals, citing examples of rising inflation, depreciating currencies, and capital flight in several affected nations. He urged leaders across the region to collectively address the root causes of political instability, including youth unemployment, corruption, and weak state institutions, which often provide fertile ground for military adventurism.
“We cannot talk about economic growth or regional integration if some of our member states are in a constant state of political emergency. Investors flee from instability, and development partners lose confidence when the rule of law is undermined,” he said, calling for renewed commitment to constitutional governance and stronger enforcement mechanisms by ECOWAS.
His remarks resonated with the broader theme of the summit, which focused on accelerating regional integration in the face of growing political, economic, and security challenges. The Ghanaian president urged West African nations to recommit to the principles of good governance, transparency, and accountability, noting that economic prosperity and political stability are two sides of the same coin.
As the region continues to navigate a complex and volatile geopolitical landscape, Akufo-Addo’s warning serves as a sobering reminder that without sustained peace and democratic resilience, efforts to achieve economic transformation may prove elusive.
