Ooni Installs Ghana’s President Mahama as Aare Atayeto Oodua

…as Mahama urges ECOWAS to re-engage Sahel nations

The President of Ghana, Dr. John Mahama, has charged West African leaders to prioritize diplomacy and re-engage with the Sahel countries to foster regional stability.

President Mahama made the call on Monday in Ile-Ife, Osun State, during his installation as the Aare Atayeto Oodua of the Source by the Ooni of Ife, Oba Adeyeye Ogunwusi.

Speaking at the ceremony, the Ghanaian leader emphasized that the sub-region faces shared challenges and that ostracizing the nations under the Alliance of Sahel States (AES) would be counterproductive.

He stressed that the destinies of West African nations are tied together and called for bridge-building between the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) and the breakaway nations.

Mahama noted that chaos must be avoided in the region, arguing that God placed these nations together for a purpose.

He pledged that as long as he remains President, he will continue to advocate for bringing the Sahel nations back into the fold, citing the deep historical ties that bind the people of the region.

The President also took the opportunity to thank President Bola Tinubu for his friendship, describing him as an elder brother and a source of inspiration.

He dedicated the chieftaincy title to the Nigerian President while acknowledging the ancestral links between some Ghanaian ethnic groups and Ile-Ife.

While performing the installation, the Ooni of Ife, Oba Adeyeye Ogunwusi, described President Mahama as a symbol of African unity, cultural continuity, and economic reform.

The monarch noted that the African continent shares common roots beyond modern political boundaries and that Mahama’s relationship with the palace predates his current recognition.

Oba Ogunwusi extolled Mahama as a true reformer, commending his economic acumen and the turnaround witnessed in Ghana’s economy during his second term.

The monarch stated that the new Aare Atayeto possesses a special “economic touch” whose leadership impact is resonating across the African continent and the global Black race.

Also speaking at the event, the Osun State Governor, Ademola Adeleke, commended President Mahama for his outstanding contributions to peace, unity, and regional stability.

Represented by his Deputy, Prince Kola Adewusi, the Governor described Mahama’s role in mediating between ECOWAS and the Sahel region as a landmark intervention at a critical time when tensions were high.

Governor Adeleke hailed the Ghanaian President as a global peace ambassador whose commitment to diplomacy, dialogue, and coexistence has earned him respect beyond national and continental boundaries.