The President, Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo has reiterated the country’s unequivocal rejection and condemnation of terrorism in all forms and manifestations.
He underscored that arresting the deteriorating security situation in the Sahel and West Africa would require urgent actions predicated on concerted efforts to succeed in attempts to bring progress, prosperity, and development to the people in the region.
The President made this statement during a high-level debate of the United Nations Security Council, themed “Counter-Terrorism in Africa- An Imperative for Peace, Security and Development” on Thursday, highlighting three key points for consideration by the Council.
“Firstly, in addressing the threats relating to terrorism in Africa, it is important that we leverage the role of the African Union and its regional economic commissions in raising a robust and resourced force to confront the terrorists and other armed groups, alongside other peace operation initiatives.
We welcome the ongoing joint strategic assessment of the security, governance and development issues of the Sahel, just as we encourage the high-level panel, led by the respected former President of the Republic of Niger, His Excellency Mahamadou Issoufou, to leverage the best elements of the G5 Sahel Joint Force, the Accra Initiative, the Nouakchott Process and the Multinational Joint Task Force, and consider recommendations for a unified and restructured regional force. We urge the Council to be supportive of such efforts,” he stated.
President Akufo-Addo also noted that the burden of confronting terrorism could not be borne by those in the region alone. It required strong collaboration between the United Nations, the African Union and the regional economic communities, especially ECOWAS, to address the question of adequate, predictable and sustainable financing for regional-led operations.
” The African Union has demonstrated its commitment and capacity to manage effectively such financing, and to comply with the required human rights standards in such operations. This Council and the wider international community must play their part, if there is a desire to have a continuing relevance,” he added.
He further stated that the structure and approach of international support to countering terrorism, including in the Sahel should be preventive rather than reactive.
“There is the need, therefore, for the Council and the wider international community to address the underlying drivers of the instability through the building of resilience in conflict-prone regions, including in the areas of promoting democratic values, development and state services.
International support must be placed fully behind deliberate interventions to promote inclusive governance, and the extension of effective State authority in several parts of our territories in order to meet the expectations of our largely youthful populations, who, in some instances, have fallen victim to the radicalized messages of extremists,” he emphasized.
President Akufo-Addo noted that the Council’s support for adequate, predictable and sustainable financing of African-led operations would be an important starting point for the maintenance of international peace and security.
“And, in concluding, I would strongly urge members of the Council to revisit the vexed issue of the reform of the United Nations system, especially of the Security Council, and to do so on the basis of the African Common Position on UN Reform, as enunciated in the Ezulwini Consensus, if, indeed, the authority of this Council which, in recent times, appears to have been devalued, because of its anachronistic structure, is to be restored,” he added.
Patience Anaadem, ISD
