Opinion: Mills, its time for “Open” diplomacy in Ivory Coast

I sided with President Mills when he said that Ghana cannot choose a leader for Ivory Coast. However, at this stage I do not think Ghana has any choice, but to engage in “open diplomacy” to help resolve the leadership impasse in Ivory Coast. The President’s quiet diplomacy does not appear to be working. The situation in Ivory Coast is worsening and chances for peace and stability appear bleak as Ivorian refugees stream across the border to Elubo and other Ghanaian towns.

Helping to resolve this issue does not mean choosing a leader for Ivorians or taking sides. The President must be visible; he should be seen standing side by side with Mr. Laurent Gbagbo and Mr. Alassane Ouattara as he works to bring hope to terrified and desperate Ivorians. Having just a picture of him sitting around a table with Mr. Gbagbo and Ouattara on the front pages of news papers across the world would go a long way to psychologically bring optimism and hope to anxious Ivorians.

If possible, President Mills can travel to Ivory Coast with ex-President Kufour (since ex-President Rawlings is tasked with helping bring peace to Somali) to meet Mr. Gbagbo and Mr. Ouattara and attempt to bring a peaceful resolution to this crisis.

He does not have to be successful; but at least, history will judge him favorably for his efforts. And if he is successful, Ivorians will always say “merci beaucoup monsieur le Président Atta Mills”. Ghanaian business men and women whose sales and profits have dwindled as a result of the crises will also never forget his contribution.

President Mills was right when he stated that the use of military force will not solve the problem in Ivory Coast. And that is the more reason why, I believe, he should adopt open diplomacy to show to Ghanaians and Ivorians that he is not reneging on his promise to help resolve the standoff between the opposing parties in Ivory Coast.

If Ivory Coast completely collapses it would definitely affect Ghana on all fronts; economically, politically, socially, etc. According to Ivorian refugees currently arriving at Elubo, there is virtually no police presence along the 140 kilometer highway from to outskirts of Abidjan to Elubo. They claim that the Ivorian police along the highways (outside of Abidjan) have abandoned their duties. Apparently, most of the Ivory Coast border guards have also left their posts at their border near Elubo and fled to Ghana.

This development could potentially undermine the national security of Ghana and I hope the President is beefing up military presence along Ghana’s border with Ivory Coast before the situation gets out of hand. The best defense to this breakdown of law and order at Ivory Coast side of the border may be to seek permission from the United Nations (since there’s no government currently in charge in Ivory Coast) to establish refugee camps on the Ivorian side of the border. He could then, in addition, request authorization from the UN to send Ghanaian troops to maintain law and order in the refugee camps on the Ivory Coast side of the border.

All that said, I think time may not be on Ghana’s side and I will plead with President Mills to change tactics and openly (not behind the scenes) commit himself to help Laurent Gbagbo and Alassane Ouattara come to a peaceful resolution to the crisis “next door”. So far, the President’s doctrine of “quite diplomacy” has not achieved the desired results. I know his plate is full and there is a lot of work to be done in Ghana; however, the desperate people of Ivory Coast do not need President Mills to hide behind their curtain, but rather stand up on their podium of diplomacy.

Credit: Ebenezer Mienza