President Akufo-Addo has made a spirited appeal to the United States Secretary of State, Anthony Blinken to press on the Biden administration to turn its attention to West Africa and to support her to deal with the rising phenomenon of terrorism in the region.
Describing terrorists and violent extremists as “enemies of democratic rule,” President Akufo-Addo said the activities of these non-state actors are posing a direct threat to the peace, stability and democratic gains made by Ghana and several other states in the West African region.
Speaking at a scheduled bilateral meeting held at the Walter E. Washington Convention Center with Secretary Anthony Blinken as part of the 2022 US – Africa Leaders’ Summit on Wednesday 14 December 2022, President Akufo-Addo said every necessary effort must be made to ensure that all countries in West Africa remain as democratic states and peaceful.
Russian mercenaries
According to President Akufo-Addo, Russian mercenaries are at the northern border of Ghana because the military government in Burkina Faso and Mali have engaged the Wagner Private Military Company, a Russian paramilitary organization, and have allocated a mine in southern Burkina Faso to them as a form of payment for their services.
“To have them operating in the northern part of Ghana is particularly distressing for us in Ghana. We have been very vocal and upfront about condemning the Russian invasion of Ukraine and therefore to have this group at our borders is a matter of considerable disquiet and concern for us”.
“ECOWAS and the West African area must remain a democratic space, and that is the reason for the decisions we took over the coup d’états in Burkina Faso, Mali and Guinea. ECOWAS has been very consistent in refusing to deal with these governments because of their undemocratic nature of ascension to power,” President Akufo-Addo stated.
Democratic rule
“The commitment to democratic values and institutions,” according to President Akufo-Addo, “is a high priority for all states in West Africa. The deepening of democracy in Ghana is the very reason why everything ought to be done to ward off the counter-democratic actions by terrorists, violent extremists and mercenaries in her northern border area.
“We in Ghana have been through all kinds of arrangements, we have had a one-party state, and all other kinds of experiments have taken place and our people are now very clear in their minds, they want to go down the avenue of democratic engagement and that is why the last 30 years of the Fourth Republic has been the most stable in our country’s history.
“We want to do everything to preserve that but there are enemies of democracy who are working hard in West Africa today and therefore it is important that we bring that matter to your notice and see to what extent we can engage you as a reliable partner in the push-back of those forces,” President Akufo-Addo added.
US commitment
Secretary Anthony Blinken on his part noted that the United States greatly values President Akufo-Addo and Ghana’s leadership in West Africa and the important efforts being undertaken to ensure regional security.
He acknowledged that there are many challenges in the Western African region but the United States is ready to stand with West Africa to face and confront them.
“We’re strong partners, including on the UN Security Council, which we greatly value; partners for democracy and security in West Africa, and we greatly appreciate the peacekeeping contributions that Ghana makes, but also just more broadly, your leadership for peace, for security, for democracy.
“Many, many challenges, but we’re grateful to be facing them together and pleased to have you here this week for the summit,” the US Secretary of State, Anthony Blinken said.
Volatile situation
The Western African region in the last three years has suffered three unconstitutional changes of elected governments in Mali, Burkina Faso and Guinea. The regional block, the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) has suspended all three countries and their military rulers from the Authority.
The military leaders in the three states have made several proposals suggesting road maps and timelines return their countries to democratic rule. However, the proposals are yet to be implemented as the military rulers have remained in power.
During this same period of unconstitutional rule, terrorist activities in these countries have been on the increase, sometimes spilling over to other countries in the region such as Ivory Coast, Togo and Benin. Ghana has so far, managed to ward off terrorist attacks in her territorial space.
From Wilberforce Asare