Abuja: The Government of Ghana has paid about $82.5 million as its Community Levy contribution to the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) in 2025, reaffirming its commitment to regional integration and economic cooperation. MP Dominic Napare, a member of the Ghanaian delegation to the ECOWAS Parliament, disclosed this in a country report presented at the First 2026 Ordinary Session of the ECOWAS Parliament in Abuja.
According to News Agency of Nigeria, Napare noted that Ghana still has an outstanding balance of $15.5 million owed to the ECOWAS Commission. He emphasized Ghana’s commitment to ECOWAS integration and the transparent administration of its Community Levy, with total lodgments of GH?908.53 million reported for the period from January to October 2025.
Napare raised concerns about security threats linked to jihadist spillovers from Burkina Faso, Mali, and the wider Sahel region, warning of possible escalation along Ghana’s northern borders. He mentioned Ghana’s intensified diplomatic engagement with these countries following their withdrawal from ECOWAS, including presidential working visits and the appointment of a Special Envoy.
He highlighted that Islamic militant groups have used parts of northern Ghana for logistical and medical support related to Sahel insurgencies. To address this, Ghana established the National Centre for Coordination of Early Warning and Response Mechanism (NCCRM) in November 2021 under Act 1070 to enhance independent security monitoring. The Centre tracks various threats and shares regular reports with the ECOWAS Commission.
Napare stated that Ghana’s democratic system remains stable, with peaceful transitions of power between the National Democratic Congress and the New Patriotic Party over three decades. Following the 2024 general elections, which saw a voter turnout of about 60.9 per cent, Parliament comprises 184 NDC members, 87 NPP members, and four independents.
On representation, women hold about 14.5 per cent of parliamentary seats, while youths account for only 2.5 per cent, despite making up 35.9 per cent of the population. The government has enacted the Affirmative Action (Gender Equity) Act, 2024, to improve inclusion in governance.
Regarding media freedom, Napare said Ghana ranked 27th out of 180 countries in the 2024 Reporters Without Borders World Press Freedom Index. However, economic pressures contributed to a decline in 2025. The government has trained security personnel on media rights and pledged accountability for attacks on journalists.
On environmental issues, Napare highlighted severe climate impacts affecting about 45,000 people annually due to flooding. He also addressed the ongoing issue of illegal small-scale mining, known as galamsey, which pollutes major rivers. The government relaunched its anti-galamsey campaign in 2025 with security deployments and introduced a Community Mining Scheme to provide legal alternatives for artisanal miners.
Napare noted Ghana’s compliance with ECOWAS fuel standards, maintaining a maximum sulphur content of 50 parts per million since 2017. Additionally, Ghana became the first country to implement the ECOWAS Roaming Regulation bilaterally in 2023, enabling travellers to pay domestic rates across member states.