President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo has urged the Malian transitional government to attach great importance to finalising the electoral calendar to conduct the presidential and parliamentary elections within the set time frame.
President Akufo-Addo, who is also the ECOWAS Chair, said it was important that all actors in the Malian space continue to pay particular attention to the implementation of the 2015 Algiers Accord, which continues to provide the framework for the re-establishment of state authority over the entire territory of Mali.
President Akufo-Addo said this when Mali’s transitional President, Bah N’daw on Thursday, November 12, 2020, paid a courtesy call on him at the Jubilee House as part of his two-day tour of the country.
President Bah N’daw was appointed Interim Malian Leader, as a result of the proactiveness of President Akufo-Addo and the decisions reached at the ‘Peduase Meeting’ of the ECOWAS Authority on September 21, 2020, that an appointment is made for an Interim President, a Vice President and a Prime Minister for Mali.
President Bah N’daw, who leads the transitional government which is expected to last for 18 months, has appointed 25 persons to steer the affairs of the country, to return the country to multi-party democracy.
Addressing a joint press conference at the foyer of the Jubilee House, President Akufo-Addo said Ghana and Mali have had long-standing relations dating back to pre-colonial days and underpinned by strong historical routes that unite the two countries.
“The strategic alliance of Ghana-Guinea-Mali was one of the seminar events that paved way for the establishment of the African Union predecessor body—the Organisation of African Union (OAU).”
The ECOWAS Chair expressed hope that the two countries would work together “not only to help bring progress and prosperity to the Malian people, but also to work towards the strengthening of the ECOWAS community.”
President Akufo-Addo said it was important for the welfare of the 350 million people of the community that, “we the leaders demonstrate a strong political will to make the community an economic and political success and to make the project of integration real.”
This generational of African leaders, he noted, must not fail the long-suffering from African masses. “We must help bring dignity and prosperity to our continent and its peoples.”
The Ghanaian President recalled his working visit to Mali last month (October), when he held consultations with President Bah N’daw and other government officials, to access the progress made in the transition process.
“I want to commend you and your government in your on-going efforts towards calming tension and resolving the current socio-economic-political crisis in Mali, I’m lauding the establishment of all the institutions of the transition.”
President Akufo-Addo congratulated President Bah N’daw on his “appointment as President of the traditional transitional government of Mali.
On his part, President Bah N’daw extolled President Akufo-Addo for intervening to bring peace between two fighting factions
President Bah N’daw said Mali was not aloof of the dynamics and strategy of the founding fathers Ghana-Guinea-Mali which had stayed on onto today, “not only the union but also for the rest of Africa.”
He said current leaders of the countries, are aware of the “historical union created between the peoples of these three countries and reaffirmed his government’s commitment to continue to improve on Ghana Mali relationship.
“So, this is what made us believe that it was very important to make this first trip to Ghana, Ghana who holds the pan Africanist culture that we all admire”, President Bah N’daw stated.
Rex Mainoo Yeboah, ISD
