Guinea Coup Makers Have Violated ECOWAS Charter – Akufo-Addo Fumes

President Akufo-Addo says the seizing of power by the Guinean military on Sunday 5th of September 2021, is a violation of the common charter of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS).

The President made the assertion in his opening remarks to his colleague ECOWAS Heads of State at their virtual summit to discuss and take concrete decisions on the political situation in Guinea and the way forward for the West African states.

Chapter two, Article 4 (J) of the ECOWAS Revised Treaty adopted in Abuja, Nigeria states: “The high contracting parties, in pursuit of the objectives stated in Article 3 of this Treaty, solemnly affirm and declare their adherence to the following principles:

(J) “Promotion and consolidation of a democratic system of governance in each Member State as envisaged by the Declaration of Political Principles adopted in Abuja on 6 July, 1991”.

The military in Guinea seized political power on Sunday 5th September 2021, and arrested the third term President of Guinea, Alpha Konde.

The military junta subsequently suspended the constitution and promised to return Guinea to constitutional rule in the shortest possible time.

President of the Republic and Chairperson of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS), Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo, will tomorrow afternoon chaired a virtual emergency meeting of ECOWAS Heads of State and Government to take action on recent political developments in the West African state of Guinea.

Colonel Mamady Doumbouya, who led the takeover, appeared on state media with a Guinean flag on his shoulders. He announced the dissolution of the constitution and said borders would be closed until further notice.

“Our action is not a coup d’etat”, Doumbouya, head of Guinea’s Special Forces, said in the Sunday broadcast.

“It only reflects the legitimate aspiration of people to want to live in an environment where basic human needs can be met,” he added.