While on the campaign trail, Ghanaian President John Dramani Mahama criticised now-former President Nana Akufo-Addo’s closeness to Western states. Akufo-Addo advocated for French troops to remain in West Africa, which would have worked against the newly-established anti-imperialist bloc known as the Alliance of Sahel States (AES).
Mahama, 66, stated that under his leadership, he would seek to build stronger ties with Burkina Faso, Mali and Niger, Ghana’s three neighbouring states in Africa’s arid Sahel region that ousted Western-aligned leaders and announced their exit from the Western-backed regional bloc, Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS), to establish a confederation among themselves. The AES states will officially depart ECOWAS by the end of January.
Merely weeks since his inauguration, Mahama seems to be keeping his word. On 21 January, he appointed retired Army Commander Larry Gbevlo-Lartey as Ghana’s special envoy to the AES. Appointing Gbevlo-Lartey, Ghana’s former national security coordinator and the African Union chairperson’s former special representative in charge of counter-terrorism cooperation, is a significant step that recognises the AES’ sovereignty and strengthens ties between the Sahel and Ghana.
Is Ghana moving toward better and friendlier relations with the AES? Let us know your thoughts in the comments.
Sources:
https://archives.au.int/handle/123456789/6425
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8N5iTO_Avdw
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FvMaSnnwt_Y
https://www.dailysabah.com/opinion/op-ed/alliance-of-sahel-states-and-a-new-era-for-west-africa