President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo has told his Senegalese counterpart, Bassirou Diomaye Faye, about the impact the his assumption of office as President has made on the Ghanaian youth.

He disclosed that as a young African President, Mr Faye has set a legacy that other young Africans can emulate, especially the Ghanaian youth.

“I’ve also told you what your elections have done to all the young people in Ghana, they all want to be President of this country now. This is the example you have set and it is a very good example,” President Akufo-Addo said when he received President Bassirou Faye at the Jubilee House today.

President Faye arrived in Accra after visiting Nigeria’s President Bola Ahmed Tinubu.

Highlighting other significance of his election, President Akufo-Addo noted that it came at a point when brows were raised regarding the democratic principles of Senegal.

“It appeared one time as if Senegal’s reputation as a country committed to the principles of democratic accountability, respect for human rights, and the rule of law was being jeopardized. But fortunately, good sense prevailed, elections were held and out of the elections, Mr Bassirou diomaye Faye emerged as a clear convincing leader of the elections,” he said.

“And the manner in which his tenure in the presidency has brought peace and unity to his country and Senegal is going to play an important role in the ECOWAS. We are lucky we have a new leader in Senegal in place,” President Akufo-Addo added.

On the exit of Niger, Burkina Faso, and Mali from the ECOWAS, the Ghanaian President is hopeful the presence of President Faye will make a difference in ensuring the three countries return to the ECOWAS Community.

“I think he going to help us to try and resolve the big problem that we have in the ECOWAS community, that is the purported departure of three of the key figures in ECOWAS; Niger, Burkina Faso, and Mali,” he asserted.

“President Faye is very committed to see what we together with the rest of us can do to reach out and revive the dialogue and enable us to extend a hand of friendship and brotherhood to these three countries and find a way to bring them back within the ECOWAS Community. It’s a historically important set of measures that have to be taken to enable us to happen,” he added.

Faye won a resounding victory as an anti-establishment candidate, promising major reforms to become the country’s youngest ever president.

His election has been seen as an inspiration for change in contrast to some of the continent’s ageing leaders who have been in power for years and to other countries now run by military governments.