Niger Deployment: We'll Just Be Sending Our Soldiers to the Slaughterhouse - Ablakwa Warns Akufo-Addo
NDC Member of Parliament for North Tongu constituency and minority Spokesperson on Foreign Affairs, Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa has cautioned President Nana Addo Dankwah Akufo-Addo on the dangers of sending Ghanaian troops to Niger in ECOWAS bid to overthrow the coup government and restore the country its democratically elected government.
According to him, the President will be sending Ghanaian soldiers to the slaughter house.
Speaking on Okay FM's 'Ade Akye Abia' programme, he has asked the President to rethink his decision and stay out of the ECOWAS decision.
"President Akufo-Addo has to take a second look at his decision to deploy our Soldiers, it is going to lead to a blood bath, we will just be sending our Soldiers to the slaughter house," he said.
"There are other African countries who have decided to stay neutral and watch how things unfold in Niger and not be entangled in the brawl between them and possibly ECOWAS, and I believe that our President can learn same from these countries.
"The decision by the Economic Community of West African States To send soldiers to Niger will only worsen and break the already volatile situation in that country. The leadership of ECOWAS should employ a non violence approach to remedy the situation," he added.
ECOWAS Defence Chiefs Meet In Accra
ECOWAS Defence Chiefs have met in Accra to discuss the deployment of a standby force in Niger to restore constitutional rule.
Heads of state of the sub-regional bloc last Thursday ordered the activation and deployment of a standby force to Niger if dialogue with the putschists fails. According to a statement by the ECOWAS Commission, the ECOWAS Committee of Chiefs of Defence Staff (CCDC) has commenced the activation of the ECOWAS Standby Force for the restoration of constitutional order in the Republic of Niger.
Presidential guards led by General Abdourahmane Tchiani on 26 July arrested Niger’s president Mohamed Bazoum and dissolved the constitution.
Responding to the coup, ECOWAS convened an emergency meeting where it imposed economic sanctions on Niger including a seven days ultimatum to the putschists to reinstate the ousted president.
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