Ghana's new president undermines President Tinubu, invites him as Ecowas chairman while simultaneously hosting a controversial coup leader. The recent inauguration of John Mahama as Ghana's president has provoked a storm of debate regarding the state of democracy in West Africa, particularly concerning the role and authority of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) and its current chairman, Nigerian President Bola Ahmed Tinubu. Mahama's decision to invite Tinubu as a guest speaker while simultaneously hosting Captain Ibrahim Traoré, the controversial coup leader from Burkina Faso, has sparked concerns about the erosion of democratic values in the region, and shows the challenges faced by ECOWAS in promoting stability and governance. The inauguration ceremony, intended to celebrate a peaceful transition of power, was instead marred by the presence of Traoré, who came to power through a military coup that toppled Burkina Faso’s democratically elected governme...