In our Editorial of August 14, 2023 we agreed with the decision of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) to activate its standby force to be deployed to Niger to restore constitutional order.
In that piece, we also agreed with the admonishment from Civil Society Organisations (CSOs) to President Akufo-Addo not to deploy Ghana’s troop to the intended mission by ECOWAS.
The CSOs criticised the regional bloc for their ‘I Do Not Care’ attitude whenever some heads of state attempted and mostly succeeded in changing the constitutions of their countries in their favour.
According to the CSOs, the unconcerned posture of ECOWAS over decades has emboldened political leaders to manipulate the constitution, but the end result has been the unending military takeovers happening in the region.
Considering the reason behind the position espoused by the CSOs, we could not help but agree 100 percent with them.
However, on the flip side, we argued that the worst form of civilian government was better than military dictatorship. We were happy that, for once, the rather calm ECOWAS was ready to show the other side and protect the region, especially from the influence of western powers.
We drew the attention of our readers to the point that the sub-region would laugh at the wrong side of its mouth if the military coup leaders were not prevented from recruiting a Russian private military company, The Wagner Group, as is happening in Burkina Faso and Mali.
Who knows how the Niger situation will occur, considering the laying of pipe from Africa to Europe, which passes through Niger – the interest of Russia in this venture cannot be downplayed, as it would take advantage of the ongoing coup.
Based on these analyses, The Chronicle reluctantly supported the deployment of Ghanaian troops to Niger.
In an interview with the Daily Graphic, as published in yesterday’s edition, the Clerk of the General Assembly of the Presbyterian Church of Ghana, Rev. Dr. Godwin Nii Noi Odonkor admitted that coup d’états were becoming rampant and should be of concern. He said the phenomenon pointed out the urgent demand for African leaders to provide quality leadership for their citizens.
He, however, made the point that sending troops to Niger would escalate the issue, suggesting that ECOWAS should engage the leadership of the juntas to hand over power to a civilian government.
Over the years, the ECOWAS had resorted to the suggestion above, but none of the juntas obliged. Even in the Niger coup, the operators did not obey the ultimatum given, which is why ECOWAS activated the next line of action.
The bloc had been issuing sanctions to the affected member country by first suspending their membership and then placing travel bans on the coup leaders. However, we have witnessed that these actions have not yielded any results. On the contrary, the military juntas have brazenly called the bluff of ECOWAS.
Against that background, we have not changed our position on the deployment of troops. We have read from several quarters on the subject and Ghanaians have raised compelling concerns, including the economic difficulties currently facing the nation and proper consultations.
Among others, we agree strongly with the call for broader consultation with citizens in that regard.
More importantly, Parliament should take a decision on that as the representatives of the people, if it means that they would have to be recalled from recess to deal with this urgent matter.
In as much as we understand that, as a member of the ECOWAS, it may be difficult for Ghana to isolate itself from the deployment, we hold the view that the government must ensure that the majority decision influences his action.
We are concerned about the regional ties between our nation and the rest of the bloc, especially when we play host to the Secretariat of the African Continental Free Trade Area.
The narrative on the image of Ghana, characterised as the gateway to Africa, not lending support in this trying time for the region would definitely be negative.
Africa must unite to protect their resources from the hungry western world, which comes to us clothed in white apparel with a piece of candy to take away our full meal to satisfy their people while impoverishing us.
