Security analyst, Adam Bonaa, has called for unity among African countries to avert the impact of western influences on the sub-region. He conceded that the Western world is taking advantage of weak protocols on good governance on the African continent to destabilize it.
As a remedy, Adam Bonaa revealed that the more united the continent is, the more difficult it will be for the West to take advantage of it.
“As we speak, you understand we struck a partnership with Cote d’Ivoire as the two leading producers of cocoa. What happened? Cote d’Ivoire went out on its own [and] started doing other things. So, the more disunited we are, the more prosperous the West becomes, and so, why will they want to see a stable continent or a stable Africa? Yes, obviously, there are those who profit from our disunity and they are there in their numbers. So, as far as I’m concerned these countries in the West see us as producers of raw materials and if we are united, chances are that we start producing our own products and we don’t have to send it to them for getting it refined and bringing it back and selling it to us…”
Adam Bonaa
His comments followed President Akufo-Addo’s request for the strengthening of existing African Union protocols on good governance to sanction some African leaders who have manipulated their constitutions to extend their stay in power.
Moving beyond the African rhetoric
According to Adam Bonaa, the West stands to benefit more than its African counterparts when African leaders attend forums and seminars and “speak beautifully” without any tangible impact in the lives of its citizens. He explained that the current surge in fuel prices, cost of living, coupled with the plummeting in standard of living around the continent, is a phenomenon which sparsely affects the West. This, he indicated, is because western countries have instituted the necessary structures to buffer the citizens from a global economic meltdown.
“You go to other places in the West; yes, fuel prices and other things are going up but one will say they have put in more measures to ensure that those below a certain bracket are taken care of. But over here, cost of living is up, standard of living drops and these are some of the triggers of what our President spoke about; getting leaders trying to entrench themselves because they have some sycophants supporting them to do that”.
Adam Bonaa
Expressing his view on the President’s Speech in addressing an African Union Security Council dialogue on Unconstitutional Changes on the continent, where he described as dangerous and unacceptable the desire of a few to use a shortcut to government to exercise power without limit, Mr Bonaa reckoned that leaders on the continent need to go beyond the “beautiful flowery speeches” and rhetoric. He expressed that African leaders need to put in more measures that will stop civilian elected government who are elected by citizens from entrenching themselves in power.
Citing the case of Ivory Coast’s President, Alassane Ouattara, Adam Bonaa revealed that although President Akufo-Addo has moved around with him to some of the “coup infested countries” like Mali and Burkina Faso, the Ivorian President is guilty of the same offence the President spoke about.
Following this, Adam Bonaa underscored the need for African leaders to go beyond the “rhetoric and ensure more measures” are put in place to dissuade persons like Alassane Ouattara from entrenching themselves and manipulating an election.
“So, as far as I’m concerned, our leaders including our President should go beyond statements like this and probably take more action”.
Adam Bonaa
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