The government of Ghana has announced that President Nana Akufo-Addo was elected as the new Chairman of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS), at the ongoing 57th ECOWAS Summit, which is being held in Niamey, the capital of Niger.

The summit is being held at the Mahatma Gandhi International Conference Centre, where leaders will be considering reports form the 44th Ordinary Session of the Mediation and Security Council at the Ministerial Level and the 84th Ordinary Session of the ECOWAS Council of Ministers, which preceded the Summit.

Akufo-Addo was elected unanimously, taking over from Niger's President Mahamadou Issoufou for one year.

"Excellencies, I am fully aware of the challenges which confront West Africa. Past leaders of ECOWAS have demonstrated their collective will and determination to drive the agenda of regional integration, opening up our economic frontiers, encouraging healthy competition amongst Member States, and ensuring that we adhere to our formative principles," Akufo-Addo said during his thank-you speech.

Former Ghanaian presidents Jerry John Rawlings, John Agyekum Kufuor, and John Dramani Mahama had all chaired ECOWAS.