A Governance Expert, Professor Emmanuel Osei Asiamah, says ECOWAS did not have the power to interfere when ousted Guinean President, Alpha Conde changed the country’s constitution to suit his government.
Alpha Conde changed the country’s constitution in March 2020 paving the way for his third term.
The election, which was held in October 2020, was violently disputed and marred by accusations of electoral fraud.
According to international reports, dozens of people were killed during demonstrations against a third term for the Alpha Conde, often in clashes with security forces.
It was also reported that hundreds were arrested.
Alpha Conde was proclaimed President on November 7, 2020 despite his main challenger Cellou Dalein Diallo and other opposition figures denouncing the election as a sham.
The government launched a crackdown, arresting several prominent opposition members for their alleged role in abetting electoral violence in the country.
Alpha Conde, a former opposition leader himself who was at one point imprisoned and sentenced to death, became Guinea’s first democratically elected leader in 2010, winning re-election in 2015.
However, he was accused of drifting into authoritarianism.
Due to this, a coup was recently staged against him by some soldiers in the country.
Although the ECOWAS is engaging the soldiers to put things in order, a section of the public kept asking why the ECOWAS did not act when the constitution was changed amongst other matters.
Speaking on Atinka TV’s morning show, Ghana Nie with Ekourba Gyasi Simpremu, Professor Emmanuel Osei Asiamah explained that,”ECOWAS has its jurisdiction. They cannot go and decide for another country.”
He said because most of the ECOWAS leaders had belief in democracy, it was obvious they would condemn or speak against the coup.
“When you look at the ECOWAS statements, you realised they have asked the soldiers to hand over to the democratic leader and go for election even if they have removed their President successfully,” he noted.
Professor Emmanuel Osei Asiamah said the coup could bring a lot of human right issues, adding that they might bring their own rules which might not be favourable to the people but because they are soldiers, autocratic ruling will set in.
Ghana| Atinkaonline.com| Porcia Oforiwaa Ofori
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