Ghana\u2019s former President, Flt Lt Jerry John Rawlings said the cost of a military intervention in Ivory Coast will be far higher financially and economically than seeking a re-election or a recount.
\nPresident Rawlings was speaking at a dinner reception hosted by His Excellency Kwesi Quartey, Ghana\u2019s Ambassador to Ethiopia at his residence in Addis Ababa.
\nDefending his stance against a military intervention in the tense standoff in the West Africa nation, President Rawlings who is also the African Union (AU) High Representative for Somalia said, \u201cif Africa wants to reject coup d\u2019\u00e9tats then we must replace it with an electoral process that has integrity.\u201d
\n\u201cIf we replace coups with an electoral process that lacks integrity then people will be asking what is the difference between this and a coup,\u201d he added.
\nThe former President said he believed a re-evaluation of the vote in Ivory Coast as suggested by South Africa\u2019s Jacob Zuma and Uganda\u2019s Yoweri Museveni will be setting a precedent which will affect some of the questionable leaders on the continent and \u201cmay be some of us do not want that\u201d.
\n\u201cIf some of us are insisting that we do not want to recognise the sanctity of the right of election, the integrity of the process and the election results and we are insisting on the military factor, what interpretation do most people put on it?\u201d
\nPresident Rawlings said it was important that a re-evaluation takes place in Ivory Coast so in future some leaders on the continent who have the coercive power of the state do not rig the election and impose the results on the people as the aggrieved electorate can seek a re-evaluation with the precedent that has been established.
\nThe AU High Representative also lamented the growing trend where certain world powers have made it a dangerous trend of pronouncing that one leader has stayed in power for too long so every effort will be made to pronounce that leader a loser even if he wins.
\nTouching on Somalia, President Rawlings said he agreed to take up the role because the crisis affects the entire continent.
\n\u201cThe crisis has taken a life of its own and cannot be contained in Somalia, spreading internationally through piracy. It is going to be a difficult task and I am not going to be presumptuous and state that I have the solution. I have a whole learning process to go through. I hope the various factions will find me accommodating enough to work with me,\u201d President Rawlings said.
\nIn his welcome address, Ambassador Kwesi Quartey said the appointment of President Rawlings to the Somalia role brings hope and optimism to the peace process.
\nHe described the former President as a unique and colourful personality who restored integrity and credibility to the state and government in Ghana.
\nThe dinner was attended by Foreign Minister, Mohammed Mumuni, Lord Boateng of the British House of Lords, Vice-President of the African Court of on Human and People\u2019s Rights, Justice Sophia Akuffo, Ambassador Boubacar Diarra, Special Representative of the AU Chairperson in Somalia, members of the diplomatic corps and a cross-section of the Ghanaian community in Ethiopia.
\nThe Peace and Security Committee of the African Union will meet at the level of heads of state to deliberate on the issue of Cote d\u2019Ivoire on Saturday evening.
\nSource: http:\/\/jjrawlings.wordpress.com\/<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
Ghana\u2019s former President, Flt Lt Jerry John Rawlings said the cost of a military intervention in Ivory Coast will be far higher financially and economically than seeking a re-election or a recount. President Rawlings was speaking at a dinner reception hosted by His Excellency Kwesi Quartey, Ghana\u2019s Ambassador to Ethiopia at his residence in Addis […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":0,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-275067","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard"],"yoast_head":"\n