ECOWAS IS NOT SATISFYING ANY FOREIGN POWERS IN IVORY COAST: RAWLINGS IS WRONG


Ten days ago I reported in an article titled Ivory Coast crisis exposes Ghana’s
diplomatic hypocrisy, that the Ivoirian diplomatic mission in Ghana (Gbagbo
appointees) lobbied former President Rawlings for Ghana’s support in that country’s
post electoral tag of war; This led to a U-turn in Ghana’s position on the Ivoirian
crisis. Some readers’ critic the article on the basis that the claim was false;
others went to the extent of sending me threatening emails for exercising my freedom
to express myself and making such expressions public. My position has been
vindicated.

Speaking at the one year anniversary of the Concerned Muslim Youth of Ghana at Kanda
in Accra, Mr. Rawlings spoke as if he was reading from the play book of the
notorious Ivoirian Young Patriots leader, Charles Ble Goude. Like Ble Goude, he
tried to erroneously link some foreign powers to the Ivorian crisis, as if the
country was under some kind of foreign invasion.

“Africa has suffered enough and I do not believe that we should be allowing
ourselves to be misled into waging war against ourselves simply to satisfy some
colonial or foreign interest,” Mr. Rawlings said.
(http://news.myjoyonline.com/international/201101/59399.asp) read link for further
details.

By making the above statement Mr. Rawlings is not only supporting Gbagbo, but also
speaking like his ally.

If Mr. Rawlings is concerned about the suffering of the African people, the best he
could do is to impress on those who lost legitimate elections to accept the mandate
of their people and leave office. Rather than rant at a gathering that has nothing
do with Ivory Coast. Suffice it to add that it was precisely the unjustifiable cling
to power in many African countries by leaders who lost the support of their people
or want to rule without consulting them that led to the suffering of Africans in the
past decades. A position he and those he support want to so recklessly impose on the
Ivorian.

Also, the claim that “waging war against ourselves simply to satisfy some colonial
or foreign interest” is a very absurd argument not worthy of leader who ruled for 18
years and handed over power peaceful and whose spouse is allegedly seeking Ghana’s
highest office. ECOWAS is not intervening in Ivory Coast to satisfy any foreign or
colonial power. It is rather intervening to avert civil war and affirm it protocol
on democracy and the rule of law that all member countries, including Ivory Coast,
had signed. Therefore, to claim the sub-regional body in engaged in some kind of
neocolonial enforcement is most unfortunate, hypocritical, and an insult to the
integrity of the sub-regional body.
(http://www.comm.ecowas.int/sec/en/protocoles/Protocol%20on%20good-governance-and-democracy-rev-5EN.pdf)
(http://www.comm.ecowas.int/sec/en/protocoles/Protocol%20on%20good-governance-and-democracy-rev-5EN.pdf)


It is very unwise for a respected national leader to make such pronouncement about
African leaders, including, by way, James Victor Gheho, the President of the ECOWAS
commission. A Ghana diplomat who made the announcement to use “legitimate force” to
oust Gbagbo from office in case he refuses to leave.

We can make a legitimate and reasoned argument as to why Ghana should not partake in
such a bold military endeavor. But to suggest that the entire sub-regional body is
senseless enough to wage a war simple to “satisfy some colonial or foreign interest”
is outer show of disrespect and lack of candor on the part of Mr. Rawlings.

It is also very arrogant, in that it seems to suggest that everyone else, including
all heads of states ECOWAS, Africa Union, United Nations, EU, United States, and the
Cater Centre, are all wrong, except Mr. Rawlings, Gbagbo and their allies. It raises
further questions about Mr. Rawlings, his motive, his character and his commitment
to democracy and rule of law. It is fair to ask this question giving Nana Kunadu’s
presidential ambitions.

Many of people close to the Rawlingses had said that man is still bitter. He is not
happy with his treatment during the Kufour regime and the international silence that
ensue when his diplomatic privileges were revoked. He was lamenting his regret for
handing over to the Kufour administration. Should Ghanaians trust the Rawlingses
with the presidency given his publicly stated position? My guess is as right as
yours.

Many African autocrats now use western countries as an excuse to reject election
results and entrench themselves in power. We heard the argument in Zimbabwe and
Kenya, and now Ivory Coast. Many of these new African tyrants are hypocrite. They
embrace the west when it suits them and then blame them at their convenience. It is
a subtle way of rejecting multi-party democracy and the rule of law. It is a
concealed whisper in the ears of Africans that democracy is not good for the
continent; hence we should embrace one party rule. Africans, particularly those in
the media need to pay close attention to this line of argument. It is likely to
reverse the democratic tide of the last decade to the corpulent of the post-colonial
political instability, corruption, and human rights violations. An unforgotten past
still memorable in many African countries; the ink of which still not dry in the
pages of post-colonial African history.