Niger: Broke country ‘beating war drums’ – Omane Boamah on Ghana’s support to ECOWAS

According to the former minister of communications, Dr. Edward Omane Boamah, any decision by the Ghanaian government to send troops to help the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) deal with the coup situation in Niger will demonstrate that the government’s poor priorities are to blame for Ghanaians’ suffering.

According to reports, the Ghanaian Parliament has backed a joint military force’s intervention in Niger.

 

Recall that the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) Commissioner for Political, Peace, and Security, Dr. Abdul Fatau Musa, promised that Niger will once again have democratic rule.

Constitutional order would be restored using all available methods, Dr. Fatau emphasised.

He made the statement at the emergency meeting of army commanders of various West African governments taking place in Accra today, Thursday, and Friday, regarding sending soldiers to Niger to restore constitutional order. “If push comes to shove, we are going into Niger with our machinery, we are not going to beg for alms,” he stated.

 

West African army commanders convened a crucial meeting in Accra from Thursday, August 17 to Friday, August 18, as a result of the coup in Niger, to discuss how to restore constitutional democracy there.

 

The Authority of Heads of State and Government of the Economic Community of West African States decided to activate a standby after the meeting.

The military junta headed by General Abdourahamane Tchiani had first been given a seven-day deadline by the West African group to restore Mohamed Bazoum to his position as president.

Following the expiration of the deadline, the Authority resolved to consider additional alternatives, including an intervention by stand-by force, on Thursday, August 10 in Abuja, Nigeria.

 

On the first day of the meeting, Dominic Nitiwul, Ghana’s minister of defence, urged the army chiefs to uphold their allegiance to their respective heads of state as well as to ECOWAS as steps were taken to bring back democracy in Niger.

 

He urged the army generals to convey to the outside world that the era of popular support for coups is now past.

“Your presence alone sounds and gives me a powerful message to the world that you are united in carrying out the directive of the ECOWAS heads of state and governments and that after today and tomorrow’s meeting, you will put in place a plan to ensure that a standby force is activated and that democracy will be restored in Niger,” he said.

“Nobody in West Africa is secure if presidential guards in Guinea and Niger kidnap their presidents. In order to ensure that coup d’etats no longer have the support of our population, I implore you to uphold your allegiance to heads of state, Ecowas orders, and leaders in general.

Dr. Omane Boamah wrote on Twitter, “Broke country pounding war drums! This should demonstrate to Ghanaians that their suffering results from poor priorities and that the government can find the necessary funds if…

 

According to Fatimatu Abubakar, the deputy minister of information, the government would decide whether to send troops to help the ECOWAS cope with the crisis scenario in Niger based on its ability to pay for the deployment.

According to her, no nation can contribute what it lacks, hence Ghana’s contribution will be based on its capacity.

 

“Our contribution will depend on the government’s ability after careful consideration of what we can afford. On Saturday, August 19, she said on Key Points on TV3. “No country can give what they don’t have,” she said.

 

Broke country beating war drums!
This should tell Ghanaians our suffering is due to poor priorities; and that the government can find the money if…#Niger

— Dr. Omane Boamah (@eomaneboamah) August 19, 2023

Her remarks follow a request by Builsa North MP James Agalga for the government to clarify how it intends to pay for any troops it may send to the ECOWAS to cope with the crisis scenario in Niger.

He demanded an explanation from the administration because there is no funding for peacekeeping operations in this year’s budget until 2023.

 

According to the ranking member of the Defence and Interior Committee, the committee is worried about whether or not Ghana’s administration may send troops to the ECOWAS to handle the crisis in Niger without parliamentary consent.

Due to the sensitive nature of the conversations discussed regarding security, he stated the committee convened a meeting on this subject but refrained from commenting further on the specifics of the meeting.

“If Ghana is required to contribute troops, how will we pay for them and with what resources? Do you now comprehend the pressing need for it to be brought before Parliament? He added on Saturday, August 19’s Key Points on TV3.

“The constitution does not contain a clause requiring the government to address Parliament, but its spirit mandates that you obtain the people’s approval through their representatives in the national assembly before sending people’s relatives to battle, where they may perish. We need to be honest and morally responsible.

The Builsa North Member of Parliament continued, “Sanctions are enough, already UN has faulted the components of the sanctions.