Akufo-Addo cautions countries

– Against actions that jeopardises unity of ECOWAS

By Isaac AIDOO, Accra

President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo has given assurance that Heads of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) are taking steps to deal with the looming challenges of disintegration staring the regional bloc in the face.

President Akufo-Addo cautioned member states to beware of their actions in order not to jeopardise the successes chalked so far. 

He was addressing the opening session of the Kofi Annan Peace and Security Forum, in Accra, a high-level multi-stakeholder programme.

The two-day programme is being supported by Germany and Norway and has in attendance representatives of a cross-section of the global community, including the United Nations (UN), the European Union and the West African Regional bloc, ECOWAS.

The forum is themed  ‘ Migration and Societal Resilience in a Multipolar World Order : Addressing Conflicts and Building Peace in Africa   seeks to build regional capacity to mitigate migration and conflicts in Africa.

The forum will discuss topics such as climate change and migration in West Africa, community resilience to climate change and conflict, irregular migration, and transnational organised crime.

 “Together with my fellow ECOWAS counterparts, we are seeking ways to

find amicable solutions to the challenge of ECOWAS integration. The region is at the crossroads, and our actions will determine the trajectory that will set the path for prosperity or destruction for our citizens,” President Akufo-Addo assured.

He regretted the recent decision by the authorities in Burkina Faso, Mali, and Niger to withdraw from the ECOWAS, saying it did not augur well for the security and stability of the region.

He observed that recent political turmoil in Senegal created a loophole for miscreants to perpetuate insecurity in the region, and deepen the migration crisis.

Mr Akufo-Addo acknowledged that the ECOWAS region was grappling with multiple sources of insecurity that included violent extremism and democratic reversals.

“Such developments are deflecting the attention of the Community away from

deeper and more meaningful regional integration and economic development that are anchored on the Protocol Relating to the Free Movement of Persons, the Right of Residence and Establishment,” the President stated.

According to the President, the fullest potential and benefits of human migration will remain elusive in the absence of effective international cooperation and greater solidarity.

President Nana Akufo-Addo pointed out that in an increasingly multipolar world, as typified by the BRICS countries’ significant influence, critical issues about human relationships in the context of migration, as well as the structures and institutions that organize them, had emerged

He called on the global community should collaborate to address migration issues objectively for the benefit of humanity.

President Nana Akufo-Addo hoped the forum would help address some of the pertinent challenges associated with migration to foster peace and security in Africa.

He lauded the Kofi Annan International Peacekeeping Training Center for convening the forum, as well as the German and Norwegian Governments for their worthy partnership.

Commandant of the KAIPTC, Major General Richard Addo Gyane said West Africa had the highest rate of internal and external migration in Africa.

“Research by KIAIPTC has demonstrated that porous borders are a major factor behind increased irregular migration in West Africa which then cause insecurity in many countries,” he stated.

Mr Irchad Razaaly, the EU Ambassador to Ghana, lauded President Nana Akufo-Addo for his unwavering efforts to promote peace in sub-Saharan Africa.

Mr Leonardo Santos Simao, the UN’s Special Representative for West Africa, and the Sahel, welcomed the idea behind the organisation of the forum, saying the UN was worried about the increasing conflicts in the region.

Topics to be discussed at the forum include migration,  climate change and conflicts in Africa ,

Other topics are building regional capacity to mitigate migration and conflicts in Africa, addressing irregular migration and transnational organised crime in a Multipolar World, building community Resilience against climate change and conflicts.