The nation has noted with approval the call by His Excellency the President, Prof J. E. A. Mills, for Ghanaians to pray for peace in La Cote D’Ivoire. Much as most of us Ghanaians believe in the efficacy of prayer, prayer cannot be a replacement of or substitute for an active policy of Ghanaian diplomacy and engagement. It is said that heaven helps those who help themselves.
Conflict and instability in La Cote D’Ivoire pose a threat not only to the peace and stability of West Africa, but also to Ghana’s national security. Ghana shares a 700km border with La Cote D’Ivoire and our nation is an obvious haven for refugees from La Cote D’Ivoire. Already, with the renewed tension, stories are being told of scores of Ivoirians pouring into the neighbouring states of Liberia and Guinea. Our nation will have to bear the additional burden on our infrastructure, of increased transit traffic in our ports and roads as traffic of goods normally destined for La Cote D’Ivoire are diverted through Ghana. There are many ties of kinship among the peoples who live on both sides of our common border.
These are some of the reasons why Ghana cannot afford to stand by and watch helplessly as La Cote D’Ivoire is plunged into another cycle of bloodshed, conflict and division.
His Excellency the President’s good relations with former President Laurent Gbagbo are well known. The President is respectfully urged to use his good offices to intervene with former President Gbagbo to ensure that the will of the Ivorian people is respected and that the position of the international community, as expressed by the position of ECOWAS at a meeting at which His Excellency the President was present, the Africa Union, the European Union, the United States Government and the United Nations Security Council, is respected.
Everything should be done to avoid the spectre of La Cote D’Ivoire descending into the status of a rogue state whose leaders act in defiance of domestic and international law. Bloodshed and chaos should not be the price for an individual seeking to remain in office at all cost.
Former President J. A. Kufuor got involved in the resolution of the Ivorian crisis at its very beginning and helped broker the peace that prevented La Cote D’Ivoire descending into full scale civil war. President Mills should to get equally involved so that former President Laurent Gbagbo exits peacefully from power to spare La Cote D’Ivoire another bout of conflict and confusion. The Ivorian people deserve better.
An anxious Ghanaian nation awaits the leadership of its President.
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