President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo received a three-member delegation from the Guinean military junta, the Comité national du rassemblement et du développement (CNRD or National Committee for Reconciliation and Development), on Wednesday 29 September at Jubilee House in Accra.
The delegation, led by Colonel Sadiba Koulibaly, the second-in-command of the CNRD, was at the seat of Ghana’s presidency to update President Akufo-Addo, in his capacity as the chairman of the ECOWAS Authority, on the roadmap to ensure a smooth return to democratic, constitutional rule in Guinea.
Colonel Koulibaly told the president that ten days of consultations with leading stakeholders in Guinea had led to the drafting and adoption of a new transition charter which re-emphasises the military leadership’s determination to return Guinea to civilian rule.
The charter particularly stresses, Koulibaly said, that members of the transition will be barred from standing for presidential and parliamentary elections, and that a civilian prime minister will lead the transitional government.
Colonel Koulibaly also said that the CNRD understands and accepts the Authority’s decision to place sanctions on Guinea. However, he called on ECOWAS to consider the peculiar circumstances which led to the coup d’état of 5 September 2021.
More time for fresh polls
Regarding the conduct of presidential and legislative elections within the six-month time frame stipulated by ECOWAS for a return to democratic rule, the delegation pleaded with the Authority to reconsider its decision, arguing that Guinea does not have the capacity to organise the transition within the set time.
Colonel Koulibaly explained that the junta has decided to conduct a national census, rewrite the electoral code and establish a new electoral commission, in order to ensure that it can hold free and fair polls.
For his part, President Akufo-Addo re-emphasised ECOWAS’s unreserved condemnation of the coup d’état. It contravened the ECOWAS Protocol on Democracy and Good Governance, he said, which demands that political power be attained through the ballot box and not with the bullet.
Acknowledging the newly adopted transition charter, however, the ECOWAS chairman accepted that it is a step in the right direction and said he is encouraged by the CNRD’s decision to update the Authority of Heads of State of ECOWAS regularly on the evolution of the transition process.
Nonetheless, Akufo-Addo insisted unequivocally on the time frame for holding elections, maintaining that six months will be sufficient.
He assured the Guinean leadership of ECOWAS’s commitment to help overhaul the electoral process by providing technical support.
Condé’s condition
President Akufo-Addo stressed the need for Guinea’s military leaders to take heed of the Authority’s decisions, as the full weight of the international community is firmly behind any decision taken by ECOWAS.
On the vexed matter of the arrest of Alpha Condé, the ECOWAS chairman expressed concern about his continued detention, his physical safety and his inability to exercise his fundamental human rights.
To this effect, President Akufo-Addo reiterated the ECOWAS demand for the immediate and unconditional release of President Condé.
Colonel Koulibaly reassured President Akufo-Addo that the ousted Guinean leader is in good health and is being cared for properly, emphasising that President Condé still has access to a personal doctor and cook.
Asaase Radio 99.5 – tune in or log on to broadcasts online
99.5 in Accra, 90.7 in Ho, 98.5 in Kumasi, 99.7 in Tamale, 89.5 in Tarkwa and 106.9 in Walewale
Follow us on Twitter: @asaaseradio995
#AsaaseRadio
#TheVoiceofOurLand
