Security expert Prof. Kwesi Aning has voiced doubts about ECOWAS’s ability to resolve the latest political crisis in Guinea-Bissau.
Speaking in an interview on November 27, a day after a military coup in the country, he argued that depending solely on the regional body may not bring meaningful results, pointing to ECOWAS’s past inability to fulfil its core responsibilities.
“I don’t think ECOWAS can effectively lead efforts to resolve the Guinea-Bissau crisis because it has failed to achieve its primary mandate,” he said.
Prof. Aning added that Wednesday’s military takeover further weakens an already fragile democratic landscape in West Africa and warned that similar incidents could erupt in other countries within the region.
“We may be entering a period of deepening instability, which could be extremely dangerous for the sub-region,” he cautioned.
“This raises broader concerns about the value of democracy, the quality of leadership, and persistent issues of corruption and transparency… This crisis is not ending soon, and this may not be the last coup.”
Meanwhile, the government of Ghana has strongly condemned the coup in Guinea-Bissau, describing it as a “direct assault on democracy” and a grave attempt to overturn the will of the people.
In a statement issued by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs on Wednesday, November 26, Ghana said it is “profoundly concerned” about the military takeover, which occurred just days after peaceful presidential and parliamentary elections were held on November 23.
According to the statement, the coup has “brazenly disrupted” the electoral process and prevented the expected release of results scheduled for November 27, derailing the country’s democratic progress.
Ghana is calling for the immediate restoration of constitutional order, stressing that any election-related disputes must be resolved peacefully, transparently, and through legally recognised procedures, not through force.
The statement also urged the protection of civilians and foreign nationals in Guinea-Bissau, especially members of the ECOWAS Election Observation Mission currently in the country.
SourceThe Ghana Report
