Hon. Kennedy Agyapong, a flagbearer hopeful of the New Patriotic Party (NPP), has thrown his weight behind the government’s decision to send Ghanaian soldiers to Niger in the event that the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) launches military intervention.
The ECOWAS organization has requested that its member states create a standby army as a potential solution to the coup in Niger.
The coalition demands President Mohamed Bazoum’s reinstatement as the duly elected head of state and his release from house detention.
On Thursday, August 17, the Committee of Chiefs of Defense Staff of Ecowas will convene in Accra to discuss how to proceed with reestablishing constitutional order in Niger.
Some Ghanaians have expressed their opposition to the government’s potential decision to send troops from Ghana to Niger.
However, according to the politician, there is nothing wrong with the government’s decision to send some troops to Niger.
Speaking in an interview on TV3, monitored by 1Family Radio, Kennedy Agyapong stated that sending the troops to Niger is our obligation to the ECOWAS.
“We have an obligation as ECOWAS countries, and you cannot run away from it,’’ he said.
“The action should serve as a deterrent because coup d’état is becoming rampant in ECOWAS, so we should use Niger to serve as a deterrent and say anybody who tries again, ECOWAS will come after them, and this is not the first time.’’
“In fact, the second most important country in West Africa is Ghana. I’ve been an ECOWAS member [of Parliament] before, so it is an obligation.”
“If we make a mistake and we allow coups d’etat all over West Africa, tomorrow it will be me and you, and the first thing is that the two of us will go to jail first before anybody,” he said.
“They will dissolve Parliament, arrest journalists, and check all the coups. So, the security of this county is very important, and no matter the amount of money, prevention is better than cure. Prevention will not cost you as much as you are curing it,’’ he added.
Source: 1Familyradio