The Member of Parliament (MP) representing Ningo-Prampram in the Greater Accra region, Samuel Nartey George, has expressed apprehensions regarding the potential repercussions of employing the military to mediate in Niger’s leadership turmoil.
He voiced his concerns about President Akufo-Addo’s failure to adequately equip and strengthen the Ghana Armed Forces (GFA), despite the unwavering dedication and professionalism exhibited by its officers.
President Akufo-Addo has announced Ghana’s commitment to providing troops for a regional standby force aimed at reinstating the deposed president, Mohamed Bazoum, and his government in Niger.
This initiative would involve engaging Niger’s soldiers who were responsible for the ousting and currently hold control.
“Focus our scarce resources on improving the living conditions of Ghanaians and stop poking your nose in other Country’s matters. Dzi wo fie asem Mr President,” he said.
On August 16, Sam George posted a message urging President Akufo-Addo to allocate the nation’s limited resources towards improving the well-being of Ghanaian citizens, rather than involving the country in external conflicts.
He additionally implored President Akufo-Addo to refrain from making decisions that could result in unnecessary loss of life and untimely confrontations.
“Direct our scarce resources towards enhancing the lives of Ghanaians and abstain from interfering in the internal affairs of other nations. Attend to your own concerns, Mr. President,” he commented.
The MP referred to Article 2(4) of the United Nations Charter, arguing that this provision restricts the use of military interventions, a path being contemplated by “you [President Akufo-Addo] and your associates in ECOWAS.”
He questioned the validity of using Article 42 as justification and asked whether there existed a United Nations Security Council resolution sanctioning such an intervention. He pointed out that the necessary three criteria for invoking the Responsibility to Protect (R2P) principle were not clearly evident, underscoring the importance of respecting Niger’s sovereignty.
Mr. George further urged the president to adopt a thoughtful and judicious approach for resolving the crisis in Niger, rather than pursuing military intervention that might align with the interests of external powers.
He emphasized that any decision to commit Ghana Armed Forces personnel to a futile and unnecessary conflict should require the approval of Parliament, a demand he put forth.
The phrase ‘Dzi wo fie asem,’ which translates to “mind your own business,” gained prominence in politics when the late President John Evans Atta Mills, faced with pressure from political adversaries to interfere in the turmoil of Cote d’Ivoire at the time, asserted that he preferred to concentrate on domestic matters rather than meddle in the affairs of other sovereign nations.