President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo says the COVID-19 pandemic is threatening to assassinate the fragile security situation in the West African sub-region.
He said other forces of threats relate to the unacceptable change of term limits, poverty and economic starvation among others.
President Akufo-Addo was at the speaking second Kofi Annan Peace and Security Forum in Accra on Wednesday (8 December).
“The maintenance of peace and security remains a critical challenge in West Africa and beyond. Although the magnitude of the challenge varies from state to state, countries in the region are generally grappling with the extraordinary forces of threats that undermine both stages in human security.”
“Undoubtedly the most recent of these challenges has been COVID-19 which has eroded the substantial measure the economic gains chalked in recent years and is threatening to assassinate the already fragile security situation in many parts of the region,” Akufo-Addo said.
Rich history in peacekeeping
The president said on the basis of ECOWAS’ frameworks, the sub-region“ … has demonstrated a proud track record and a rich history of peacemaking, peacekeeping, dialogue facilitation, preventive diplomacy and mediation in West Africa.
“ECOWAS has gained in-depth knowledge and learnt critical lessons from three decades of interventions in conflicts across the region. However, to be proud of our successes is not to be blind to our weaknesses or to lose sight of the critical threats that continue to undermine security in the region.”
About the forum
The forum is Africa’s biggest forum that addresses contemporary peace and security issues on the continent
The two-day programme, which is being jointly organised by Kofi Annan International Peace Training Centre (KAIPTC) and the Kofi Annan Foundation in Geneva, is on the theme: “Democracy and Governance in the Context of Complex Crises in Africa”.
It is the biggest gathering of leaders from the continent in memory of the late Kofi Annan, former UN secretary general, who was a fiery advocate of peace and security across the globe.
Annan, who led the United Nations from January 1997 to December 2006, had an understanding of peace founded on a holistic vision of societies based on good governance, democracy, and human rights, especially in Africa.
Over the years, KAIPTC, which was named after him, works to promote peace and security across the continent.
Six African former presidents and two former prime ministers are participating in the two-day forum.
They are Ghana’s two former presidents, John Agyekum Kufuor and John Mahama; former president Ellen Johnson Sirleaf of Liberia; former president Ernest Bai Koroma of Sierra Leone’, former president Goodluck Jonathan of Nigeria; and Niger’s former president Mahamadou Issoufou.
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