President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo has said instability in some West Africa states could be best dealt with by democratically elected leaders.
“As it were, you cannot deal with security on its own without taking into account quality of governance of those who are prosecuting the battle for security, it is a mistaken view,” he added.
The President also called for closer collaboration between the UN and ECOWAS member states to help restore security and stability in the troubled countries and return them to democratic rule.
President Akufo-Addo was speaking during a meeting with the Special Representative of the UN Secretary-General and Head of UN Office for west Africa and Sahel, Leonardo Santos Simao at the Jubilee House in Accra last Monday.
Concerns
The President said the preoccupation of most leaders in the region was about how to re-establish democratic rule in countries that had experienced coups in recent times.
“Efforts that are being made in Burkina Faso to confront the terrorists menace have not improved, they have not been able to turn the tide of terrorism in that country.
We need to restore these countries to democratic rule,” he said.
President Akufo-Addo, however, said methods to be used to address those challenges were proving to be difficult and, therefore, urged the UN to expand the mandate of its Multidimensional Integrate Stabilisation Mission that was in Mali (MINUSMA) to make it more robust and forceful.
He said it was quite clear that the relatively limited mandate MINUSMA had in Mali, including its inability to act when actions were required, made the intervention unsuccessful.
Economic growth
President Akufo-Addo further said in dealing with issues of security, “we cannot overlook the need to find means to propel economic growth and development of our nations”.
“We are talking about poor states with major problems of poverty and youth unemployment, and it is only by improving the economic situation that we can address these issues,” he added.
The President said as the region strove to ensure peace and stability, it should also dedicate space and time to continue the search for means to improve its economies because “that is an indispensable part of the search for stability.
This is an area the UN and ECOWAS can profitably work together, coordinate ideas and arrive at some consensus”.
Efforts
For his part, Mr Simao said his outfit had briefed the UN Security Council on two occasions on the situation in Niger and the threat of terrorism and violent extremism, including issues related to governance and environmental challenges.
He said he had toured almost all the troubled areas in West Africa and held discussions with their leaders on the way forward.
Mr Simao also sought the views of President Akufo-Addo on how the UN could work better in the region to help overcome the prevailing challenges, particularly in the areas of fighting terrorism and violent crimes.
Source: graphiconline.com
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Please , first check to know the reasons behind the recent spate of coup d'tats in Africa. How come the very people who waste productive man hours to queue to vote to elect their leaders are same people who pour onto the streets in support of coup d'tats? You swore to uphold and defend the constitution which mandates one to serve two terms in office . If you think you have power and go ahead to amend the constitution of your country to serve another term, the soldiers also have power to trigger their guns. It's that simple. If you go ahead to make promises nobody forced you to make, if you fail to deliver the people have the right to call for your head. those who elected you know you very well, they stay with you in the same community, they know your father, your mother, your house, what work your parents were doing, the work you were doing before entering political office. If they see that your life has changed for the better when theirs has taken a nose dive from bad to worse they won't keep quiet, they will complain and welcome anything that will give them hope.This is what African leaders have failed to realize. A tax receipient cannot be enjoying more than the tax payer , nobody will accept that. The politics of the 1950's to the 1980's are long gone. Nobody forced anybody to stand for president or MP in any African country. if you know you can't meet the expectations of your people, don't contest for anything, it's that simple. It's no by force. If you claim you want to represent people and serve their interest only to end up representing yourself, the people won't keep quiet, they will talk. My comments are on all African leaders, not targeted at any individual.
MR PRESIDENT DO YOU WANT SAY OR SUGGEST THAT THOSE COUPS CAN NOT HAPPEND IN GHANA?ITS CURRUPTION SCANDALS THAT BRINGS ABOUT COUPS
AKUFFO ADDO WILL GO DOWN IN GHANA'S HISTORY AS THE MOST ***barred word*** AND INCOMPETENT LEADER
Which elected leaders? I guess elected leaders like you abi!! All the happenings in the country and cries of your citizens should be of a much concern to you than issues of West Africa........... It is always a scandal after scandal.....sometimes we just wish these scandals are just heresy's but the responses and actions of government and its people just lend credence to the scandals............. Papa, it is good to show a little concern for your neighbours but, not when your children are hungry and in need...........Dzi wo fie asem ai......