Ghana's President Mahama Urges Vigilance On Mali

27 June 2013
Content from a Premium Partner
Economic Community of West African States (Abuja)
press release

Accra - Ghana — Ghana's President John Dramani Mahama has called for "vigilance, attention and more hard work" to consolidate the gains from efforts at returning Mali to democracy and sustainable peace after last year's military coup and rebel insurrection in the north of the country.

Receiving a delegation of ECOWAS Committee of Chiefs of Defence Staff (CCDS), which paid him a courtesy visit at the Flagstaff House, Accra on Thursday, 27th June 2013, he said with the imminent replacement of the African-led International Support Mission in Mali (AFISMA) by a UN mission, MINUSMA on 1st July, sustained support was needed to restore lasting peace to the country.

"Common security is an interconnected issue and since no country can go it alone, there is no alternative than to work collectively," the President affirmed, adding that dialogue remains the best way for conflict resolution while military option should be the last resort.

President Mahama expressed satisfaction at the progress being made in Mali and Guinea Bissau, where ECOWAS is leading international efforts at crisis resolution, but insisted that peace or democracy cannot thrive in a situation of violence or insecurity.

He said the positive economic growth rate of between 5% and 6% being recorded by many African countries will only sustained or surpassed if peace and security are guaranteed.

The President said the ongoing 32nd Ordinary session of the CCDS in Accra could not have come at a better time, given the myriad security challenges facing the region, including piracy, all of which, he noted must be addressed through strategic and coordinated efforts.

The CCDS chair and Cote d'Ivoire's Chief of Defence Staff, Gen. Soumaila Bakayoko, who led the delegation to the State House, told the President that issues dominating the Accra meeting included the re-hating of AFISMA; the ECOWAS-supported defence and security sector reform in Guinea Bissau ahead of the country's national elections, as well as maritime security threats in the Gulf of Guinea.

Also on the delegation to the Flagstaff House were the ECOWAS Commissioner for Political Affairs, Peace and Security, Mrs. Salamatu Hussaini Suleiman, the ECOWAS Special Representative in Mali and Deputy Head of AFISMA, Ambassador Cheichk Toure, and the Force Commanders of AFISMA and ECOMIB, the ECOWAS Mission in Guinea Bissau.

Read the original article on Ecowas.

Tagged:
Copyright © 2013 Economic Community of West African States. All rights reserved. Distributed by AllAfrica Global Media (allAfrica.com). To contact the copyright holder directly for corrections — or for permission to republish or make other authorized use of this material, click here.

AllAfrica publishes around 500 reports a day from more than 100 news organizations and over 500 other institutions and individuals, representing a diversity of positions on every topic. We publish news and views ranging from vigorous opponents of governments to government publications and spokespersons. Publishers named above each report are responsible for their own content, which AllAfrica does not have the legal right to edit or correct.

Articles and commentaries that identify allAfrica.com as the publisher are produced or commissioned by AllAfrica. To address comments or complaints, please Contact us.