GhArticles.com Every News in Detail
President John Dramani Mahama has engaged in bilateral discussions with Burkina Faso’s leader, Captain Ibrahim Traoré, concerning the country’s withdrawal from the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS).
As part of his ‘Good Neighbourliness Tour,’ Mahama acknowledged the grievances of Burkina Faso, Mali, and Guinea regarding their strained relationship with ECOWAS. He emphasized that the current breakdown of trust among regional leaders would require time and effort to mend.
During the meeting, Mahama assured Traoré that he would present these concerns at the upcoming ECOWAS summit, with the goal of restoring confidence and cooperation among member states, regardless of their official status in the regional bloc.
“We’ve discussed the issue of AES and ECOWAS, and I’ve gained new perspectives on the concerns these three countries have regarding their relations with the regional body. I assured President Traoré that I would relay these concerns to other leaders at the next ECOWAS meeting. There is a breakdown of trust among the leadership, and while rebuilding it will take time, we must work towards restoring confidence and collaboration, even if we are not part of the same regional body,” Mahama stated.
He also highlighted security challenges in the region, stressing the need for a collective response to the growing threat of terrorism.
“In Africa, we say that when your neighbor’s house is on fire, you must help to put it out before it spreads to yours. Terrorism initially began in Mali, then gradually extended into Niger and now into Burkina Faso. Like a cancer, if we don’t fight it together, it will spread throughout the region,” he added.
