Major Rtd. Derrick Oduro, has declared that the New Patriotic Party (NPP) would lose the general election in 2024, if the administration dared to deploy Ghanaian troops to battle Niger in response to Economic Community of West African States’ (ECOWAS’) determination to strike Niger over the removal of the its President.
The coup in Niger followed an emergency summit of the 15-member Economic Community of West African States on Thursday, August 10, 2023, in Abuja, Nigeria, to discuss responses to the military coup that took place in the nation, last month, after the coup leaders disregarded ECOWAS’ earlier threat to use force to restore democracy.
While the coup leaders have threatened violence if anyone tries to intervene, Ghanaians have been signaling the President that Ghana should dissociate itself from the initiative.
Hence, leading to the revelation by Major Rtd Derrick Oduro that the current administration, thus the NPP, would lose the 2024 general elections, if it dared to aid in the struggle against Niger. “The opposition party, which is the NDC wouldn’t take it lightly and would keep politicizing it, until they convince Ghanaians that the government didn’t listen to their advice,” he said.
Also, Paul Boateng, a security analyst, added that ECOWAS is unable to carry out its plan, since the President of the nation and his family are still being held by the military and could be killed in any attack.
“ECOWAS and Niger’s issue is like Ghana’s election and the electoral commission. Immediately the results are declared, you can’t do anything about it. I suggest using diplomatic means to solve the issue because Niger’s President and his family are in the military’s custody and should there be any strike from ECOWAS, they would kill them. To me, I don’t think ECOWAS can fight as they claim they would, they can’t do anything.”
Paul Boateng
Ken Agyapong Supports Sending Troops To Niger
However, Kennedy Ohene Agyapong, a Member of Parliament (MP) representing the Assin Central Constituency and the head of parliament’s Defence and Interior Committee, supported the deployment of Ghanaian troops to Niger, in the event that the ECOWAS initiates a military assault.
The West African sub-regional organization has requested that its member nations create a standby army, as a potential solution to the Niger problem. The coalition demands President Mohamed Bazoum’s reinstatement, as the duly elected head of state and his release from house detention.
On Thursday, August 17, the Committee of Chiefs of Defence Staff of ECOWAS will convene in Accra to discuss how to proceed with reestablishing constitutional order in Niger.
The action by a joint West African military, according to Mr. Agyapong, a member of the Ecowas Parliament, will operate as a deterrent to other states in the sub-region. “We have an obligation as ECOWAS countries and you cannot run away from it,” he said.
For him, the action “should serve as a deterrent because coups d’etat is becoming rampant in ECOWAS. So, we should use Niger to serve as a deterrent and say anybody who tries again, ECOWAS will come after them and this is not the first time”.
Moreover, he praised Ghana for its contribution of soldiers to the force and claimed that it is still a vital member of ECOWAS. “Ghana is, in fact, the second-most significant nation in West Africa. “In fact, the second most important country in West Africa is Ghana. I’ve been an ECOWAS member [of Parliament] before, so it is an obligation,” he stated.
Also, he emphasized that because there are already too many coups in the area, they should not be tolerated.
“If we make a mistake and we allow coup d’etats all over West Africa, tomorrow it will be me and you and the first thing is that the two of us will go to jail first before anybody. They will dissolve Parliament, they will arrest journalists…Check all the coups. So, the security of this county is very-very important and no matter the amount of money, prevention is better than cure. Prevention will not cost you as much as you are curing it.”
Ken Agyapong
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