Akufo-Addo leaves Ghana to Mali despite border closure

The President, Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo, has left Ghana today, Thursday, 23rd July 2020, to help mediate in the ongoing political crisis in Mali.

Akufo-Addo is embarking on the trip at the request of the Chairperson of the Economic Community of West African States, His Excellency Mahamadou Issoufou, President of the Republic of Niger.

Ghana’s President is among other ECOWAS leaders who have been assembled by President Issoufou Mahamadou to help in the mediation process.

President Akufo-Addo will be joined in Mali by His Excellency Muhammadu Buhari, President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria; His Excellency Alassane Ouattara, President of the Republic of Cote d’Ivoire; and His Excellency Macky Sall, President of the Republic of Senegal. They are expected to hold stakeholder consultations with the President of the Republic of Mali, His Excellency Boubacar Keita, the Imam of Mali and Co-ordinator of the Opposition, Mahmoud Dicko, and Civil Society groups, with a view to resolving the impasse.

The President was accompanied by the Minister for Foreign Affairs, Shirley Ayorkor Botchway, MP; and officials of the Presidency and Foreign Ministry, according to a statement from the Presidency.

“The President will return to Ghana later on Thursday, and in his absence, the Vice President, Alhaji Dr Mahamudu Bawumia, shall, in accordance with Article 60(8) of the Constitution, act in his stead,” the statement added.

Political turmoil in Mali

The President of Mali, Ibrahim Boubacar Keïta, and the opposition June 5 Movement have for weeks been locked in a political standoff.

The tensions culminated in violent clashes earlier in July leading to 11 deaths.

Opposition groups in Mali have been calling for President Keïta to stand down because of his handling of the economy, corruption and the country’s eight-year-long conflict with insurgents.

Last week protesters in Mali forced the state broadcaster off the air during large demonstrations in the capital Bamako.

Police had to fire shots and use tear gas to disperse the demonstrators, some of whom were trying to break into the national assembly.

The most recent regional intervention included the deployment of a former Nigerian president, Goodluck Jonathan, who met all parties involved.

The earlier mediation mission from the ECOWAS ended on Sunday after failing to resolve the impasse.

ECOWAS issued a list of reform proposals, but the opposition rejected the proposals, saying they did not address its main demand that the President resign.