Members of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) on Saturday congratulated President John Dramani Mahama on his victory in the 2012 general election and his subsequent inauguration as President of the Republic of Ghana.

“We Heads of State and government in an extraordinary session of the Authority of ECOWAS wish to congratulate President Mahama for the free, fair and convincing victory he chalked in the 2012 general election of Ghana.”

This was contained in an address read by President Alassane Quattara of Cote d'Ivoire, who also doubles as the Chairman of ECOWAS, at an extraordinary Summit of the West African body.

President Quattara added that President Mahama’s victory symbolized the victory for democracy in the entire Sub-Region, worthy of emulation by her peers yet to organize national elections in the coming years.

Later, President Mahama who presented the vote of thanks to bring the session to a close commended all the Member States for their support and counseling that enabled Ghana to gain that feat.

President Mahama also commended President Quattara for successfully organizing the summit, which he said was necessary to re-integrate Malians who fled their homes for fear of killings and destruction of property with their families.

The Summit was dedicated to finding solutions to the crises in Mali and Equatorial Guinea which have been plagued with political unrest in recent times.

It also mapped out strategies that would enforce the necessary legislations and provide the needed logistics to curb the state of insecurity in the two African States.