Member of Parliament for North Tongu Constituency, Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa, has called on Heads of State in the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) to exercise democracy.
According to him, ECOWAS has not show credibility in resolving coup d’état situations.
The Member of Parliament clarified that if the bloc is surely devoted to reinstating Niger’s ousted President Mohamed Bazoum and restoring peace in the country, then they should set an example by practing democracy themselves.
“So you are lecturing Niger on democracy, you yourself – you are not practicing democratic credentials. You should have engaged your parliament before you go and make a final determination. That is why you see that these leaders have been left alone. This is a very unpopular decision,” he said on JoyNews’ Newsfile on Saturday.
Hon. Ablakwa’s remark follows ECOWAS’ consideration of alternatives along with a army intervention to restore democracy in Niger with out the consent of the respective legislative bodies of member-states including Ghana.
According to the North Tongu MP, ECOWAS additionally failed to interact the President of Nigeria, Bola Tinubu who doubles as the ECOWAS head before declaring the use of military force
“Nigeria took strong exception, their senators on their own – it wasn’t even President Tinubu who went there with his plan in Niger – they as a senate decided to discuss this matter and pass a resolution and that was a slap in the face of Tinubu.
“Already, all the Northern governors have issued statements that they don’t support this deployment. How is (ECOWAS) going to do this deployment without the support of the Nigerian people,” he stressed.
However, the Ranking Member of the Foreign Affairs Committee of Parliament stated that even though leaders are allowed to take selections and seek ratifications, “under Article 75, we understand how the ratification ought to be sort. The GITMO decision could be very clear, have they executed that.”
Meanwhile, the North Tongu MP stated Parliament opposed any form of army intervention in Niger.
He said that democracy ought to be at the forefront in Niger’s coup because the West African States have committed to deepening their democratic credentials.
Hon. Ablakwa asserted that as much as West African countries do not support coups and military takeovers, ECOWAS has no lived up to expectancies.
He stated ECOWAS usually abused “democratic possibilities” when such troubles rises.
“They (ECOWAS) are not empathetic to the people, they don’t use good governance tools, they don’t listen to the masses, they even use their democratically elected office to undermine institutions, compromise the judiciary, entrenched themselves, engage in what you may want to call constitutional coups and that has been the bin in the sub-region.”
He further added that ECOWAS lacks credibility crises and expressed disbelieve in their attempt to be hardline and use for in Niger to serve as a deterrent to other nations.