By Kingsley Asiedu
A three-day African Union Reflection Forum on Unconstitutional Changes of Government came to a successful end with a seven-point declaration to be fully adopted in Addis Ababa in a bid to adopt the stance and views expressed at the Accra forum.
Announcing the adoption of the Accra declaration, the Head of AGA Secretariat who doubles as a Senior Human Rights Expert, Ambassador Salah Hammad, disclosed that, the declaration reflects the discussions that have taken place as well as various presentations since the beginning of the forum under the guidance of the message contained in the keynote address delivered by the president of the republic of Ghana, H.E President Nana Addo Dankwa Akuffo-Addo during the opening session on day one of the reflection forum.
Additionally, Ambassador Hammad stated that, the declaration also drew some inspiration from the statement that has been delivered on behalf of the Chairperson of the African Union Commission, H.E Moussa Faki Mahamat.
Additionally, according to the statement, the forum among other things, acknowledged that, the AU and Regional Economic communities as well as the regional mechanisms have made significant efforts in addressing the situation of the unconstitutional change of government on the continent through different measures.
Participants have declared the following issues; obligation for the full implementation of the African Union and Regional Economic communities’ regional mechanisms and instruments guiding the continent the continent and designed to prevent and end any form of unconstitutional changes of government on the continent is a compelling and shared task for all the stakeholders Commitments;
1.Continue to strongly condemn all unconstitutional changes of government in Africa.
2. Fully implement the existing the regional, national and continental tools the Africa Peace and Security Architecture and the Africa governance Architecture (AGA) as well as the African Peer Review Mechanism (APRM) which guides member states as well as the Regional Economic Communities in enhancing the national ownership of the governance processes and consolidate governance, present, manage and resolve conflicts.
The declaration statement also addresses development challenges, particularly socio-economic inequalities reflected in opportunity gabs, diversity and management across gender, age, religion, race, ethnic identity and political as well as the issue of critical state and institutions leading to institutional decay, deep seated corruption as well as insecurity in many sectors at the national level.
Participants also committed to comprehensively address factors which lead to unconstitutional changes of government including tempering with constitution and effecting amendments to Electoral laws within a short span before the elections and without the consent of the majority of political actors.
“We call on our leaders to take into account, the implications of the revolution on communication as well as the link between states and citizens, particularly the youth in order to effectively steer political transitions away from disruptions due to communication gabs and misinformation.
The declaration also rejects any form of internal or external interference on peace and security matters in Africa, mobilise resources from within the continent to ensure that sustainability of funding, from peace and security activities within the spirit of enhancing our ownership and leadership in the implementation of our continental peace and security agenda”, the declaration urged.
In his closing remarks at the end of the three-day reflection forum, the Commissioner for Political Affairs, Peace and Security, African Union Commission, H.E. Bankole Adeoye advised that, Africans should continue to speak as one, collectively, definitively against unconstitutional changes of government.
“It is important we continue the engagement and discussions, knowing well that the expectations of this forum will feed into the Malabo process”, he added.
Mr. Adeoye urged all stakeholders including the African Union, the Peace and security Council, Civil Society Organisations (CSOs), Accademia, Professionals, students and the media to rally to make sure that governance landscape changes for the better”.
He was optimistic, there will not be any such gathering in few years from today, repeating the same, “the wave of unconstitutionality we’ve seen in governance in recent times should definitely be the last in our history on the continent”, he stressed.
According to Mr. Adeoye, the forum has
identified several triggers of unconstitutional change of government including; poor governance, democratic backsliding etc.
“The challenges of unconstitutional change of government is indeed deep and complex but of course, it is not insurmountable” he emphasized.
Mr. Adeoye seized the opportunity to on behalf of the Chairperson of the commission of the African Union, expressed his outfit’s profound gratitude to all stakeholders especially, to the president of the republic of Ghana who doubles as the Chairman of Authority of Heads of State and governments of the Economic Community of West Africa States (ECOWAS), Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo and the people of Ghana for making this event possible.
In declaring the forum officially closed on
behalf of Ghana’s Minister for Foreign Affairs and Regional Integration, the Deputy Minister, Mr. Kwaku- Ampratwum-Sarpong mentioned that, it is worth noting that the organisation of this forum at such a time is gratifying in the face of the uprising on our continent is confronted with its measurable effects on the peace and security development in our region.
“I have no doubt that the honest deliberations we have had which have been duly collated by the AU Commission will very well feed into the AU extraordinary summit on terrorism and unconstitutional changes in government to be help in Malabo- Equatorial Guinea with a view of finding lasting solutions to the phenomenon of unconstitutional changes of government in Africa and the eventual realisation of peace, stability and development of our dear continent”, Mr. Ampratwum emphasized.
“It is my fervent hope that we will continue to
join hands and deploy effort and resources for the realisation of the ultimate goal of silencing the guns in Africa by the year 2030″, he assured.
