Former President of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) Commission, Mohamed Ibn Chambas, has emphasized the importance of diplomacy and negotiations in addressing military takeovers in the region. Speaking at a high-level Parliamentary Seminar in Winneba, Ghana, Chambas called for African solutions to African problems, while asserting that ECOWAS must play a leading role in resolving such crises.
Chambas stated, “We must ensure that informed decisions and actions are taken. Coups can never be condoned or allowed, and the military should not feel comfortable. We must constantly put pressure on them. However, diplomacy and negotiation should prevail. We have conflicts in Africa and the Sahel region, and it is crucial that we do not escalate them militarily.”
The former ECOWAS Commission president further emphasized the need for ECOWAS to take the lead in finding African solutions, allowing space for clear thinking and consolidating democratic governance in the continent.
Another speaker at the seminar, Prof. Raymond Atugba, Dean of the University of Ghana, echoed the call for diplomacy and negotiations. He stressed the importance of monitoring economic and political indicators in the region, applying automaticity to detect early warning signals for preemptive action.
Prof. Atugba highlighted the need for ECOWAS to establish automatic mechanisms for monitoring economic criteria, in the same way, that it manages market activities. He emphasized the interdependence of economic and political stability, stating, “If the economic kingdom doesn’t follow the political kingdom, forget it! You will be kicked out as politicians.”
He further warned political actors seeking power through elections to prioritize the economic wellbeing of citizens, or else face a coup or civilian uprising. He urged ECOWAS member states to ensure that the economic kingdom aligns with the political kingdom to avoid constitutional changes and political instability.
Prof. Atugba argued that assessing criteria such as GDP, minimum wage, inflation, interest rates, exchange rates, natural resource prices, and military spending can help identify countries at risk of economic and political instability. He called on ECOWAS to monitor these indicators and take preemptive actions in countries veering off the economic path.
He concluded by emphasizing that ECOWAS is an economic community, and its primary focus should be on economic development rather than solely political matters.
In conclusion, it is evident that both Mohamed Ibn Chambas and Prof. Raymond Atugba advocate for the use of diplomacy, negotiations, and proactive monitoring to tackle military takeovers and maintain stability in the West African region. Their contributions shed light on the importance of addressing economic wellbeing alongside political issues, as a means to prevent political unrest and constitutional changes in government.
