Politics

Ghana’s president, Akufo-Addo, says ‘foreign entities’ behind recent coups in Africa

Published

3 years ago

March 17, 2022

Ghana’s president and chairperson of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS), has made the claim that there is an international dimension to the recent surge of military coups in Africa.

President Akufo-Addo made the claim while addressing participants at the opening ceremony of the African Union (AU) Reflection Forum on Unconstitutional Changes of Government in Africa, in Accra on Wednesday.

“Some foreign entities regard coups in Africa as a means of enhancing their regional ambition”, he said.

He said outside influences were behind disinformation campaigns undermining the authority of governments in the continent and instigating opposition protests.

The president however did not give details of those he thought were linked to the coups.

There have been recent coups in Burkina Faso, Mali, and Guinea that has led to sanctions from ECOWAS and calls for African leaders to promote good governance in order to subdue disaffection among citizens.

President Akufo-Addo also stressed that statistics on unconstitutional change of governments in Africa is not only alarming but unacceptable.

Speaking further on the need for the African Union (AU) to find feasible ways that would mitigate the unconstitutional overthrow of elected governments on the continent, the ECOWAS chair cited the African Centre for Strategic Studies (ACSS) report, saying “18 African leaders have either modified or eliminated constitutional term limits in the past two decades”.

“In addition, another eight resisted efforts to institute term limits, bringing the number of countries lacking constitutional restraints on political power to 24”, he added.

Politics

Burkina Faso releases 4 French spies after Moroccan intervention

Published

6 days ago

December 20, 2024

Ifeoluwa Dada

In a diplomatic spat over their imprisonment, France and Morocco announced Thursday that four French nationals detained in Burkina Faso for a year had been freed after mediation from Morocco.

They were spies, according to a prior statement made by the director of France’s foreign intelligence organisation, the DGSE.

A request for comment was not answered by the DGSE or a representative of the French military, which is in charge of the agency.

Since December 2023, they have been held in Ouagadougou.

President Emmanuel Macron hailed King Mohammed of Morocco on Wednesday for his intervention, “which made possible the liberation of our four countrymen who had been held in Burkina Faso for a year,” according to a statement from the French administration.

King Mohammed and President Ibrahim Traore of Burkina Faso were also commended by Morocco’s foreign ministry, which stated that “this humanitarian act” was made possible by their positive bilateral ties.

In October, France made peace with Morocco, one of its former protectorates, after three years of hostilities between Paris and Rabat stoked by immigration concerns and the disputed Western Sahara region.

Morocco offers Burkina Faso and other military-ruled Sahel republics Atlantic trade.

However, France’s relations with former West and Central African colonies, such as Burkina Faso, remain difficult. In Ouagadougou, French troops and diplomats were ejected, the defence attache and ambassador were asked to depart, and certain French media were suspended.

The military junta that took control in 2022 in Burkina Faso has been criticized by international rights groups for cracking down on free expression and harassing dissidents to handle a security crisis precipitated by Al Qaeda and Islamic State extremists.

Politics

Ghana: President-elect Mahama appoints anti-corruption team

Published

7 days ago

December 19, 2024

Ifeoluwa Dada

According to a statement released by his transition team on Wednesday, Ghana’s President-elect, John Dramani Mahama, has designated an anti-corruption committee to investigate allegations of wrongdoing.

When he takes office next month, Mahama, the leading opposition candidate in the presidential election held on December 7 and who received almost 56% of the vote, has pledged to reclaim the proceeds of corruption and hold those responsible for it accountable.

In anticipation, an anti-graft squad has been established. The parliament’s Committee on Assurances, which has previously raised suspicions of governmental corruption, is chaired by MP Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwah.

An investigative journalist, a private attorney, a former auditor general, and a former police officer with experience in high-profile robbery cases make up the other three members.

After looking into alleged financial irregularities that took place during the previous administration, Daniel Dumelovo, the former auditor general, was fired.

Recovering lost assets and fighting corruption were two of Mahama’s main campaign pledges.

“He intends to hit the ground running on these commitments,” the statement said.

Eight years after leaving office, former President Mahama is back to head the West African country. Despite not being personally contaminated, he faced criticism during his 2012–2016 administration due to claims of political corruption.