Akufo-Addo, ECOWAS leaders suspend Mali as Military junta seizes power
- Mali has been suspended from ECOWAS as the military junta seize power
- ECOWAS leaders have met in Ghana for a resolution on Mali’s instability
- Nigerian leaders will meet President Akufo-Addo in a meeting over retail feud
Mali has been suspended from the economic committee of West African states. That’s the outcome of an extraordinary summit called by the Chairman of ECOWAS, President Akufo-Addo to deliberate on the political crisis in Mali.
Source: UGC
Furthermore, the military junta that seized power last week has been directed to hand over power to an interim civilian within days.
Ghana’s foreign minister Sheily Ayorkor Botchwey who briefed the media after the summit said the regional body is still hopeful Mali will comply with the February 2022 date to return the country to a democratic elected government.
President Akufo Addo says the Economic Committee of West African states, ECOWAS remains resolute in their determination to find lasting solution to the political crisis in Mali.
The president is holding an extraordinary summit to address crisis following the second military takeover in 9 months led by colonel Assimi goita. The takeover which has been legitimized by Malian constitutional court empowers the transition government to return the county to civilian rule.
Opening the session the president said the bloc must critically examine the dynamics of the current situation and make informed decisions.
Source: UGC
Meanwhile, President Akufo-Addo is expected to meet Nigerian President, Muhammadu Buhari, in an extraordinary ECOWAS meeting in Accra on Monday, May 31.
Yen News has gathered that both leaders will, once again, have a frank and closed-door emergency meeting over the protracted retail feud between Nigerian and Ghanaian traders.
Ghana’s retail laws, under the GIPC Act does not permit for foreigners – including Nigerians – to take up trading activities along retail markets in Accra.
In fact, foreigners who wish to explore retail trade will have to invest 1 million dollars and employ up to ten Ghanaian before given a license to operate.
But this has not been the case with Nigerian retailers in the country. A recent swoop by a taskforce established by President Akufo-Addo through the Ministry of Trade and the Ghana Union of Traders Association (GUTA), has so far seen over 200 shops belonging to undocumented Nigerian retailers shut.
This protracted feud between both countries has lasted for almost 25 years. President of the Ghana Union of Traders Association (GUTA), Dr. Joseph Obeng, has described the presence of these foreign retailers as “a blight on Ghana’s supreme independence”.
Source: YEN.com.gh
