Ghana’s president backs calls for West African body to outlaw 3rd term mandates

By Enoch Fiifi Forson

ACCRA, Ghana (AA) - Ghana’s President Nana Akufo-Addo has backed calls for the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) to outlaw third term mandates amid the rise of military takeovers in the region.

Akufo-Addo made the comments in an interview with Kumasi-based Ashh radio while on a four-day working visit to Ashanti Region.

The Ghanaian leader, however, stated that he was not speaking as ECOWAS chairman, a position he inherited in June 2020.

“To be honest, I am not speaking (now) as chairman of ECOWAS, I support the idea… I feel ECOWAS protocols on good governance should outlaw the third term mandates in any country. I feel strongly it is something that we ought to do to prevent what is happening in Guinea,” he said.

The president's comments came on the heels of recent military takeovers in Mali and Guinea. The military in Mali seized power in May, while Guinea's President Alpha Conde was ousted by his country’s military on Sept. 5.

The coup in Guinea was triggered by Conde decision to change the constitution so he could stand for a third term as president.

But, Akufo-Addo, on the same platform, said that there is no justification for the military to seize power.

“What I can say is that there will always be reasons for military intervention but ECOWAS has agreed that at no point is a military intervention justified,” he said.

“We are opposed in principle to military intervention (because) that is not the reason why taxpayers paid for them to be in uniforms and carry guns, not to turn it (guns) on the population. The population is capable of dealing with their issues through the ballot box,” he added.