The referendum if allowed to take place in conformity with the UN
and AU resolutions, would enable the Saharawis to decide whether to be
ruled by Morocco or opt for self determination and independence.
The Western Sahara was a Spanish colony until the 1960s when it
handed over the administration of the colony to Morocco after its
decision to move out the ‘country’.
Since then, the Saharawis had been fighting for
self-determination and independence with little result. It remains
Africa’s last colony.
Mr Bachir who was speaking on Thursday during the inauguration of
the Interim Steering committee of the Ghana Chapter of the Western
Sahara Solidarity Movement, also expressed concern about the human
rights abuses and atrocities committed by the Moroccan forces
occupying Western Sahara.
“We will appeal to the United nations Mission in Western Sahara
to extend its mandate to the protection of the human rights situation
of the people”, he added.
He blamed Spain for the establishment of a de facto
administration in the country thereby slowing down the process of self
determination.
“We would also wish to voice our concern about the support that
France, a member of the UN Security Council has been giving to Morocco
thereby making our process to self determination difficult,” he
explained.
He expressed his appreciation to Ghanaians for their support
towards the Saharawi cause and helping to bring into reality Kwame
Nkrumah’s dream of one liberated African continent.
Mr Akoto Ampaw, a lawyer and Chairman of the nine member
executive committee, was full of appreciation for the support the
Saharawis were enjoying among African countries and called for
self-determination for Africa’s last colony.
He said the interim committee would work to ensure that issues
pertaining to Western Sahara’s fight for freedom were discussed as
well as appeal to government to intensify its support for the Saharawi
cause.
“We will generally be in charge of all other issues pertaining to
the fight for self-determination and freedom by the Saharawi people”,
he added.
The committee is made up of representatives from the Ghana
Journalist Association (GJA), Trade Union Congress (TUC) and the
National Union of Ghana Students (NUGS).
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