Information Minister Kojo Oppong Nkrumah has urged Civil Society Organizations and the Media to join in continuous efforts to encourage the Nigerien Junta to comply with diplomacy in finding lasting solution to the current impasse in that country.
Speaking on Accra based JoyNews’ current affairs programme ‘Newsfile’ last Saturday Mr Oppong Nkrumah said the call is important since it helps not to undermine efforts by ECOWAS on restoring Niger back to Democratic rule.
“I want to appeal to CSOs, academia and the Media that they assist continuous efforts that will urge junta to comply with diplomacy instead of making comments that rather question ECOWAS methods,” the Information Minister urged.
ECOWAS has clearly stated that force is a last resort but wishes diplomacy to succeed. Instead of repeated calls on ECOWAS to abandon military intervention alternatives, Mr Nkrumah is urging commentators to rather pile pressure on the Military Junta to let diplomacy succeed so force will not be necessary.
Barely 24 hours of concluding plans for a possible military intervention if diplomacy fails, the Niger Coup leaders have now agreed to open up for negotiations.
This comes after earlier attempts failed which prompted meetings by ECOWAS Chiefs of Defence staff on alternative military in Accra last week.
Mr Oppong Nkrumah believes conversations and commentary on the matter especially by academia, CSOs and the Media should continue to focus on compelling the Junta to take the diplomacy option seriously.
“Though these interventions have been advertised as solutions to the growing terrorist incidents in Burkina, Mali and Niger, the data suggests that Terrorism is getting worse rather after these interventions. It is thus important that we shift from the propaganda and work towards the speedy resolution of democratic civilian governments to provide better structures to stem the tide.” Mr Nkrumah said.
