Ghana’s President John Dramani Mahama, who heads the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS), is working to help resolve the political uncertainty in neighboring Burkina Faso, where protesters forced former President Blaise Compaore to step down, says Ghana’s deputy foreign minister Joseph Yammin.
“[Mr. Mahama] being a peace-loving president would wish that the sub-region that he heads now sees utmost peace. So, he will use all available [means] at his disposal to make sure that calm comes back to the sub-region, especially to the people of Burkina Faso,” Yammin said, adding that the government in Accra is displeased with the current situation in Burkina Faso.
“As a government we are not happy about any disturbances that is found in the sub-region, knowing very well that any disturbance could extend to other countries,” he said.
There were some reports suggesting that former president Compaore was seeking refuge in Ghana to be protected by the administration in Accra, after stepping down from office on Friday.
But, deputy foreign minister Yammin would neither confirm nor deny the reports.
“What I can say is that we don’t have any clue as to whether he is here or he is not around…As to whether Blaise Compaore is in the country or not, I am not in a position to state,” said Yammin.
He said the onus lies with Burkinabes to ensure the country’s peace and stability, despite possible help from regional leaders, the African Union or international partners of the West African country.
Yammin also expressed confidence that citizens will work together to live in a society devoid of violence.
“The people would rather prefer to be in a country they are used to peacefully moving around rather than to be in a country where there would be guns firing from left and right,” he said. “I think that with this situation and with the qualities of the Ghanaian leader now the head of ECOWAS and the presidents of other countries, we should be seeing some achievements soon in this regard.
