By Abubakar Hashim
The Economic Commission of West African States (ECOWAS) emergency meeting in Accra, Ghana on Sunday afternoon approved the establishment of a “road map to the transitional government in Mali, rather than on legitimacy on the transitional government”.
Ghana’s Information Minister, Kojo Nkrumah confirmed that “ECOWAS puts premium on maintaining stability in West Africa, through upholding the transition road map, rather than the actors in the transition”. The road map is expected to ensure security in the region, rather than the actors in the transition.
There are also indications that an opposition figure, Choguel Maiga, may emerge as prime minister designate in Mali. Chief Adviser to new interim leader of Mali, Youssiuf Coulibaly has revealed that Chouguel Maiga is the likeable Prime Minister designate, as all eyes are on the ECOWAS emergency meeting today in Accra
One of the expectations from the meeting was the imposition of severe sanctions, mainly economic, on Mali, particularly blocking its access to funds from the French West Africa Central Bank, domicile Dakar, Senegal. It would have been catastrophic for Mali, a landlocked country, heavily dependent on gold exports, accounting for 70% of its revenues.
Interim Leader, 38 year old Col Assimi Goita and delegation left Mali for Accra yesterday after shunning ECOWAS Special Envoy to Mali, former President Goodluck Jonathan of in Bamako few days ago.
President Jonathan said: “My delegation, including Ghana’s Foreign Minister, waited for hours in Bamako for talks with the Malian authorities, as the then interim President, Ndaw and Prime Minister, Quain, had resigned….. we then had a brief, but inconclusive meeting with the junta delegation…. We became furious as they remained adamant…. we were furious and departed….. “, said President Jonathan in his twitter handle.
Today’s meeting in Accra has President Nana Akuofo Addo as ECOWAS Chair and host, with 10 ECOWAS Presidents on the current embarrassing political imbroglio in Mali.
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