In your “Meet The Press” briefing on 7th January, 2011, you clearly spelt out the government’s foreign policy option of ‘Dzi wo fie asem’ the now infamous foreign policy alternative, we believe is singularly responsible for the mess in Cote d’ivoire.
Mr President, your decision neutralised the ECOWAS and killed its legitimacy to militarily intervene in Ivory Coast. Without Ghana to give it the democratic and legal legitimacy, Nigeria its military power and other contributing countries lost the edge to fight. Maybe you under-estimated the power and lead role of Ghana in the sub-region.
Your actions have emboldened Gbagbo to massacre civilians in market squares, recruit the youth into his army in readiness for civil war and as a direct consequence over 500 people have since died and thousands of refugees are trooping into Ghana and Liberia. Mr President, do you realise that this is no more ‘Dzi wo fie asem’?
The civil war unfolding in Cote d’ Ivoire is partly your fault and we think you should take concrete steps to address the earlier unfortunate decision. Posterity and future generations and some of us of the present generation will not forgive you if we as a neighbour continue to mind our own business while our friend next door’s beard is on fire. Ghana has been presented with a second chance to assume its leadership role in the sub-region and Africa as a whole. We are therefore edging you to make a clear statement and commitment to ECOWAS when the next meeting is held today.
We will want to use this opportunity to edge the government and all the good people of Ghana to assist the Ivorian people and all the refugees trooping into Ghana by any means necessary. We will not enjoy lasting peace if all our surrounding neighbours are on fire. There is the potential for crime to increase, unemployment, pressure on our health system and other resources.
The decisiveness of the UN with the support of the Arab League has halted the advancement of Col Ghadafi and his army on innocent civilians. ECOWAS could have prevented the unfolding civil war if only our President had acted not only in the interest of Ghana but also in the interest of Africa. It is however, not too late to redress the matter. We therefore edge you, Mr President to be decisive this time.
God Bless Ghana
SIGNED
Richard Nyamah
Fred Amankwah Sarfo
Castro Antwi –Danso
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