Former President John Dramani Mahama has left Accra for Abuja to attend an ECOWAS meeting over Gambia’s political crisis.
The former Ghanaian President who recently handed over to newly elected President Nana Akufo-Addo has been asked to continue his mediation role in the effort to resolve the Gambian political impasse.
In an ECOWAS meeting held on the sidelines of the inaugural ceremony of President Akufo-Addo, the leaders requested the former president to continue to assist President Muhammadu Buhari as co-mediator in the Gambian issue.
In a telephone conversation on Sunday, President Akufo Addo personally conveyed the ECOWAS decision to Mr. Mahama and expressed his confidence that with his help, President Buhari would be able to realize a peaceful resolution of The Gambian impasse.
There has been heightened tension in that country after long time ruler Jammeh decided to reject results of their December 1 election, weeks after he had conceded defeat to the opposition leader, Amadu Barrow.
West African Leaders earlier deployed a Standby force to the Gambia after several efforts to compel the country’s ruler, Yahyeh Jammeh to step down after his defeat in the country’s polls proved futile.
The move came on the back of attempts by West African Leaders including a committee led by Nigeria’s Muhammadu Buhari and Ghana’s John Mahama failed to convince Jahmmeh who has ruled the Gambia for 22 years to concede.
ECOWAS in a statement said “by virtue of this decision, the ECOWAS Standby Force (ESF) is hereby deployed to the Republic of the Gambia.” “The ECOWAS Standy Force as deployed in paragraph 1 of this article shall be led by Senegal in the execution of its mandate. [Also] Upholding the results of the presidential election of 1st December 2016 in the Republic of the Gambia.”
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(Via: CitiFM Online Ghana)
