The Government of Ghana has described as condemnable, the military mutiny in Mali that led to the detention and resignation of Malian President, H.E Ibrahim Boubacar Keita.
Describing the incident as unfortunate, Ghana expressed its support to the proposal for the immediate dispatch of an Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) delegation to Mali to ensure the return to normalcy, peace and order as well as constitutional rule.
In a speech delivered by Foreign Affairs and Regional Integration Minister, Shirley Ayorkor Botchwey on behalf of the President at the Extraordinary Summit of ECOWAS Heads of State and government over the crisis today, Thursday, August 20, 2020, the government of Ghana demanded the immediate release of President Keita and senior officials of his government”.
The Republic of Ghana reiterated its solidarity with the resolve and strong sanctions imposed by ECOWAS Commission and the African Union and the positions expressed by the United Nations Security Council as well as other International Organisations in rejecting unconstitutional change of government in Mali.
Ghana added its voice to the calls for the immediate release of President Keita and senior officials of his government.
Also, the government of Ghana supported the proposal for the immediate dispatch of an ECOWAS delegation to Mali to ensure the return to normalcy, peace and order as well as constitutional rule.
ECOWAS has suspended trade relations and financial flows to Mali following the military takeover of the country.
ECOWAS in a statement condemned the coup and also suspended Mali from all ECOWAS decision-making.
It says the military action is likely to have an adverse impact on the peace and stability in the country and other member states.
In addition, the country’s borders have all been closed to other member states.
“The seizure of power intervenes within a difficult socio-political context. Indeed, ECOWAS recalls that a mediation process has been on-going during the last two months, with a view to finding a solution to this crisis,” ECOWAS said in a statement.
The country’s military on Tuesday toppled the government over what it termed as mismanagement of the Tuareg rebellion, corruption, mismanagement of the economy and a disputed parliamentary poll.
Mali’s President, Ibrahim Boubacar Keïta, who came into office in 2018, subsequently resigned from office.
He had, since June, been faced with street protests.