A military takeover is a situation many in Ghana, including political analysts, are cautioning against.
Such conversation stems from the recent coups witnessed in the West African sub-region, with Niger being the latest country affected.
Last month, a military junta led by Gen Abdourahmane Tchiani seized power from democratically-elected President Mohamed Bazoum, who is now accused of treason.
The surge in military takeovers has prompted experts to caution the government to right its wrongs as well as sensitize citizens on the consequences of autocratic governance.
Ghana has recorded a number of military takeovers in the past. It is, however, not immune due to its history.
While Ghana works to find ways to ward off such a situation, New Patriotic Party presidential hopeful, Kennedy Agyapong, has shared details of what would happen to the beacon of Africa should it lose its democratic governance practiced for 30 years.
He provided these details during an interview on TV3 on Wednesday, August 16, 2023.
According to him, the first line of action by the junta, should a coup happen in Ghana will be the dissolution of Parliament. He submitted that this would be directly followed by the attack of Members of Parliament.
Simultaneously, journalists will be arrested, he said.
“If we make a mistake and we allow coup d’etats all over West Africa, tomorrow it will be me and you. The first thing, two of us, will go to jail before any body. They will dissolve Parliament.
They will arrest journalists. Check all the coups,” he mentioned.
He therefore emphasised the role of the security forces and the need to prevent a coup as it would cost Ghana more to manage a coup situation.
“So the security of this country is important. Prevention is better than cure. Prevention will not cost you as much as you are curing it. The security of this country is very important.”
“The second most important West African country is Ghana,” he added.
Meanwhile, there are reports that Ghana is preparing to send its soldiers to Niger to complement ECOWAS’ measures to return the country to democratic governance.
Mr Agyapong did not outrightly confirm this report, but he noted that “we have obligations as ECOWAS members, and you cannot run away from it.”
Top military leaders from the Economic Community of West African States, (ECOWAS) are expected to hold a two-day meeting in Accra on August 17 and 18, 2023.
The meeting, per reports, is to discuss a possible intervention in Niger, where a junta held a coup last month.
Military takeover in Burkina Faso, Mali and Guinea
In Mali, President Ibrahim Boubacar Keïta was ousted from power by a military coalition in August. Subsequently, Mali’s former Defense Minister, Bah Ndaw, assumed the presidency of the new transitional government, with Colonel Assimi Goita appointed as vice president. However, they were both removed from power a year later in May by Colonel Assimi Goita, a 42-year-old.
On September 5, 2021, Guinea experienced a coup d’état as the armed forces captured President Alpha Condé, who had extended his stay in power through a constitutional amendment. Colonel Mamady Doumbouya, 43-year-old, was sworn in as transitional leader in October.
In Burkina Faso, President Roch Kabore was ousted from power on January 24, 2022, following a coup led by Colonel Paul-Henri Damiba. However, eight months later, military rule was reestablished, led by Captain Ibrahim Traoré, 35.
In Burkina Faso, President Roch Kabore was ousted from power on January 24, 2022, following a coup led by Colonel Paul-Henri Damiba. However, eight months later, military rule was reestablished, led by Captain Ibrahim Traoré.
