Chairman of the Political Affairs Committee of the Conventional People’s Party (CPP), Kwame Jantuah, has advised President Akufo-Addo to strongly oppose the deployment of the ECOWAS standby force to Niger.
The ECOWAS Committee of Chiefs of Defence Staff has declared their determination to use all available means to restore constitutional order in Niger.
During a two-day extraordinary meeting held in Ghana, the ECOWAS Committee of Chiefs of Defence Staff discussed the deployment of the ECOWAS standby force in the Republic of Niger.
In a session with high-ranking officers, Ambassador Abdul Musah, ECOWAS Commissioner of Political Affairs, Peace, and Security, explained that while diplomatic engagement with the military rulers in Niger remains ongoing, any further defiance by the junta could prompt a response to protect the regional bloc’s principles, involving contingency plans.
Speaking on the Weekly Review segment of the Morning Starr with Naa Dedei Tettey, Mr. Jantuah, the Political Affairs Chairman of CPP, cautioned against the deployment of the ECOWAS standby force in Niger.
“May I ask a question, what is the interest of Ghana, is the interest of Ghana in Niger Ghanaians? Is that what it is because right now the price of onions has gone up. Some of the trucks are stacked at the border. Are you saying, sometimes you don’t seem to understand it, onions, tomatoes can we not grow them here?
“Listen to President Obasanjo when he talks about this particular issue, it is because of the intransigence of our leaders, who are not able to do what they are supposed to do that is creating this. Look in Ghana here, our government should thank the people, the people don’t want these kinds of things, the people don’t want a coup. But the people are suffering and people believe in the thumb,” Mr. Jantuah stated.
He questioned Ghana’s vested interest, underscoring economic challenges and potential repercussions.
Jantuah emphasized that a military invasion of Niger might result in adverse consequences for supporting nations as well.
He warned about the risk of retaliatory missile strikes and referred to the insurgency along the Bawku border.
He urged President Akufo-Addo to take a stand against military intervention, given Ghana’s history with coups, and advocated for a diplomatic approach instead.
“The missiles won’t start flying in Niger, all the countries that have come together to attack them and the others who are defending them will throw missiles into your country. Remember Bawku and we have insurgence on that border. When the people start coming and taking our gold deposits we are in big trouble.
“They should think about this clearly, and let me end by saying President Akufo-Addo should be one President in the midst of all to say no, Ghana has experienced coups and coups haven’t helped us, yes, but this isn’t the way to go. Let’s negotiate.”