ECOWAS Tackling Security Issues In West Africa – Ayorkor Botchwey
The minister of Foreign Affairs and Regional Integration, Madam Shirley Ayorkor Botchwey has told journalists that ECOWAS is systematically and methodically dealing with the volatile security situation in the subregion.
Addressing the Press at the Ministry of Information on Wednesday, he assured member states that the regional body led by Ghanaian head of state Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo Addo is seriously tackling the Western Africa and the Sahelian issues.
He alluded to the need to review sanctions and protocols of the organization to give it a stronger bite to disable insurgent states to desist from the rampant coup d’etats.
This has culminated in number of meetings the president has been holding with member states to address the instability. Hon Ayorkor Botchwey said ECOWAS states are collaborating with each other in all fronts to save the subregion from this menace that’s having a negative impact on the region in the world’s view.
According to her, both maritime and land intelligence signals are picked by the member countries to obstruct further destabilization in the region.
“I can say that in all the countries, where coups have happened, I can say that the people are not happy; Guinea Bissau, Mali,Burkina Faso and Guinea.
So the people must not support these destablisers to bring their ambition to nought”. She however adduced that economic, inequality and bad governance may be the causes of these insurgency but the organization is seriously addressing them.
Madam Botchwey informed the media that there is a system for member states to peer- review themselves to ensure good governance to avoid any uprising.
“A lot is being done behind the scenes to avoid this instability so people must not think that we are doing nothing. There’s constant dialogue and discussion to guide heads of state and they have signed on to certain protocols to guide them.
Sanctions are also readily applied to defiant member state that breaches the laid down protocols”. She also urged citizens to be alert to report terrorists and strange people who can be in their midst to effect their immediate arrest.
She lauded the golden role the Ghanaian president is playing to ensure the curtailment of future destabilization in the region. Plans are also afoot to ostracize failing countries from the organization completely in addition to stiffer sanctions if they attempt to embark on that journey in future.
She prayed member states to to play by the rules to be proud members of comity of Nations in the world to enable their citizens enjoy good governance and development.
Source: Kessbenonline.com
