Christian Council cautions govt on deploying troops to Niger

The Christian Council of Ghana has issued a warning to President Akufo-Addo regarding the deployment of Ghanaian troops to aid in countering the coup in Niger. This deployment forms part of the ECOWAS standby force’s endeavor to remove the recently established military leadership in Niger. Addressing the media, General Secretary for the Council, Cyril G. K. Fayose, stressed the urgency for President Akufo-Addo to reconsider his current approach, urging him to halt and carefully consider the potential adverse consequences of the situation. “The church is concerned because it a very delicate and complicated issue at this point. First of all any form of military intervension can have so many implications not only in Niger but the whole sub-regions. So it’s not only going to be go in there, get the military janta out and reinstating the president and then pack out,”he added. Mr Fayose mentioned that proceeding without well-defined strategies could result in potential repercussions in the future. The Council’s General Secretary emphasized their profound concern regarding the issue, highlighting its relevance to national interests. “It is going to be a prolonged engagement, lives will be lost, there may be reprecurssions back here at home. People will flee the country and we will have to receive them etc. So I am in the opinion that we should explore all peaceful options before we can go in for a military intervention so the president…..” He advocated for a renewed focus on peaceful approaches, acknowledging past unsuccessful attempts by the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) to stabilize the situation. Meanwhile, Parliament has reportedly summoned top military officials and heads of various security agencies within the country to address President Akufo-Addo‘s decision to deploy Ghanaian troops to Niger. On August 10, 2023, ECOWAS held a meeting in Abuja, Nigeria, led by President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, and Chair of the ECOWAS Authority, H.E. Bola Ahmed Tinubu. This session was a continuation of a prior one on July 30, 2023, in response to the unlawful detention of President Mohamed Bazoum by the Presidential Guard in Niger on July 26, 2023. During the meeting, ECOWAS reiterated its strong condemnation of the attempted coup d’état and the ongoing illegal detention of President Mohamed Bazoum, his family, and government officials.