President John Mahama has charged the ECOWAS Commission to take up the issue of youth unemployment in the sub-region seriously.

He said the problem of youth unemployment if not addressed in the sub-region will have dire consequences on each country.

The president was addressing the ongoing 47^th ordinary session of the ECOWAS Authority of Heads of State and Government in Accra, Tuesday.

While admitting that unemployment is a global challenge, he said, it is even more pronounced in the sub-region and called for urgent action to be taken.

"It is my hope ECOWAS commission will take up the issue and discuss it thoroughly," the president stated.

Later this year ECOWAS will be celebrating its 40th Anniversary, a feat John Mahama said was worth acknowledging.

Touting the contribution of ECOWAS to the region's growth and development, Ghana's president said there has been an increase in trade and free movement across the borders of the West African sub-region thanks to ECOWAS.

He said in the past, nationals had to apply for entry visas and waited for weeks to be issued with visas before they could travel to neighboring countries, but that has become a thing of the past with the establishment of ECOWAS.

According to him, on 25 May 1975, when ECOWAS came into being, only a few member states were governed by a government of the people.

Today all member states are democracies, a testament to how far Africa has come.

President John Mahama applauded Nigeria and Togo for organising peaceful elections in their various countries.

"Goodluck Jonathan showed matured statesmanship," he said, adding, "his name will be recorded in a special place when Nigeria's history is recorded."