The Member of Parliament for Manhyia, Dr Matthew Opoku Prempeh, has questioned President Mills on his true position on the Ivory Coast crisis, chiding him for wearing a double-face which he says will undermine the efforts of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS).
According to the New Patriotic Party (NPP) MP, the president was part of the ECOWAS body that unanimously decided to back Mr Alansane Ouatarra, winner of the November elections as declared by the country’s electoral commission, while at the same time he publicly declares that he is not in support of a military option which is part of the many options the ECOWAS is considering.
President Mills, answering questions at an editors’ forum Friday, stated that Ghana cannot commit troops to Ivory Coast due to number constraints, adding that he personally thinks a military option in Cote d’Ivoire will not resolve the stalemate.
However, Mr Prempeh who was contributing to discussions on Metro TV’s Good Morning Ghana programme Monday stated that President Mills by this statement has caused a diplomatic blunder. He said the security implications of the crisis situation in Ivory Coast on Ghana does not even afford the president a chance to express his personal sentiments especially in the manner in which he did.
“…I think that you have lost your personal opinion here when fire is brewing just around your house; You don’t have a personal opinion,” the MP said.
He continued that “…ECOWAS met and our president was in full attendance…and [then] decided that we have to support Ouatarra. We didn’t hear a dissenting view… I thought that what was going on there were two sides of our mouths; that the President is not being straight with us…”
Mr Prempeh explained that ECOWAS’ decision to include a military option does not necessarily mean that they are going to strike militarily and that “even if they do strike militarily it doesn’t mean that all the total membership of that body should be part of that thing.
“…For the President to speak, not even as the representative of Ghana …but to seek on his own behalf at such a national forum [to express his personal sentiments] was inappropriate."
Reacting to suggestions that ECOWAS may have lost credibility because it did not act on its threats to remove self declared President Laurent Gbagbo from office as at the deadline the body gave, the Manhyia MP said: “when you have double-faced people going to ECOWAS and deciding to undermine the credibility of ECOWAS, it will come back to [nothing].
Nigeria's former President Olusegun Obasanjo was sent by ECOWAS on a mediation trip in the Ivory Coast's crisis last Sunday and Mr Prempeh thinks Obasanjo was sent to Ivory Coast “because all of a sudden, we see the key actors in ECOWAS behaving in a very bad way.
“…That is why I think on this particular point; the President has caused a diplomatic blunder…”
Meanwhile, John Jinapor who is spokesperson to Vice President Mahama and a co-panelist on the programme wondered why some people think the President has no business expressing his opinion on the issue.
“…Why? What is wrong with that? Can’t he express his opinion?” John Jinapor asked.
He said the President, in addition to his opinion, also stated government’s position, citing personnel constraint as the main reason for Ghana’s inability to support a military option in Cote d’Ivoire.
Mr Jinapor further explained that Ghana is also unable to contribute military troops because the country shares a border with Cote d’Ivoire, and that there are numerous Ghanaians there, coupled with the fact that there are already 500 Ghanaian troops in the country currently protecting Mr Ouatarra.
“…We should use diplomatic means to ensure that we solve this problem rather than a military means” he said, insisting that “Ghana will not be part of this issue of sending troops to take out President Gbagbo…”
He stated that the President's position is not only hinged on the limited strength of the military force but that Ghana will face financial and material consequences in the long run.
Story by Dorcas Efe Mensah/myjoyonline.com/Ghana
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