By Ebi Kesiena
A day after reports of Niger’s President Overthrow, Ghana’s President, Nana Akufo-Addo has condemned incessant coups in the West Africa sub-region, stating that ECOWAS must stand together.
Speaking at the 147th Independence Day celebration of Liberia, the President said ECOWAS must fight together to end coups in the sub-region.
Recall that reports emerged on Wednesday that presidential guards have detained President Mohamed Bazoum of the Niger Republic inside the palace in Niamey
Heritage Times HT had ealier reported that this makes Niger the sixth country in the West African sub-region to experience a coup since August 2020.
President Nana Akufo-Addo, who is also the former Chairman of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) urged his colleagues in West Africa to fight against the menace of coups that have plagued the sub-region.
According to Akufo-Addo, coups have destabilise the sub-region and wrecked development efforts.
“It is incumbent that we all stand together in our generation to defeat the menace of coups and guarantee the peace and stability which are essential to the rapid economic development of our areas,” he said.
The president made the comment hours after reports emerged that Niger president, Mohamed Bazoum, has been detained by his special guards.
Akufo-Addo noted that ECOWAS states must fight the unconstitutional takeover of governments in the region, stating that it would be the surest way to banish rampant poverty.
“We must reiterate our commitment to democratic governance in the ECOWAS space and reject all unconstitutional changes of government,” he said.
According to reports, the guards who arrested President Bazoum of Niger were said to be following an “ultimatum” by the army not to release President Bazoum after talks broke down.
However, the Niger Presidency has issued a statement that Bazoum and his family are well after the unpleasant incident.
