- Urges Organised Labour, Progressive Allies In Nigeria, Ghana, Others to Resist War In Niger
THE Trades Union Congress (TUC) of Ghana (Ghana-TUC) has, while condemning military interventions in the West African subregion, also disagreed with the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) on the use of force to restore democracy in the Republic of Niger.
The TUC made the declaration in a press statement on Saturday follow a meeting of its Executive Committee on Friday, 18th August, 2023, at the Trade Union Hall in Accra, convened to discuss the situation in Niger Republic.
“We urge all Organised Labour groups in Ghana, Nigeria and other countries in the region to form alliance with progressive civil society organisations including religious and faith-based groups, students, youth groups, women groups and traditional leaders to stand up against any attempt to declare war on our sisters and brothers in the Republic of Niger.”
In the statement signed by Dr Yaw Baah, TUC’s Secretary General, and made available to National Record on Monday, the leadership of TUC condemn in strong terms the Abdourahamane Tchiani-led junta in Niger Republic which overthrew the democratic government of President Mohamed Bazoum on July 26, 2023.
“Democracy remains one of the key values of the Trades Union Congress and other labour movements across the globe. Any act that disturbs the constitutional order in any country needs to be condemned because it takes that society back to the old order where a few people illegally take and usurp power that belongs to the people.
“The TUC will always support democracy because that is the only way to ensure respect for constitutional order, respect for rule of law, respect for human rights including the rights of workers, separation of powers and respect for the rights of women and men as groups and as individuals,” TUC stated, adding that though Ghana and many other countries in West Africa have experienced military rule, those military regimes, despite their claims and justifications for taking over, however failed to move the region forward in terms of social and economic development.
“West Africa remains the poorest region in the world. Over half of the population of the region is suffering severe poverty and destitution, in spite of the enormous natural resources in the region.
“We do not need the military in power anywhere in the region or in Africa. All efforts must, therefore, be made to deepen and sustain democracy on the continent by creating and strengthening democratic institutions,” TUC further stressed.
“No one can impose democracy on any country until and unless the people themselves are ready for it. The lessons from Afghanistan are still very fresh in our minds and so we have no excuse to send our military men and women to die in Niger. We need them at home to protect us from the insurgents and external forces who are gradually but surely coming close to our borders with neighboring countries.
TUC however noted that despite the repugnance of military intervention, it is strongly opposed to any attempt to remove the Niger junta by force as doing so “will further escalate the tension and the insecurity in the region.”
The statement further reads: “The The leadership of TUC equally condemn the attempt by ECOWAS to use force to restore constitutional order in the Republic of Niger.
“We hold a strong view that any attempt to remove the Tchiani-led military junta in Niger by force will further escalate the tension and the insecurity in the region. There is simply no reason for ECOWAS to wage a war in Niger, more so when there is no consensus among ECOWAS members.
“A war in Niger or anywhere in the region has a very great potential to create the environment for more insurgents and even more coup d’etats in the region which may lead to further instability and insecurity.
“No one can impose democracy on any country until and unless the people themselves are ready for it. The lessons from Afghanistan are still very fresh in our minds and so we have no excuse to send our military men and women to die in Niger. We need them at home to protect us from the insurgents and external forces who are gradually but surely coming close to our borders with neighboring countries.
ORTN Télé Sahel/AFP via Getty Images
“ECOWAS must focus on its original and core mandate of economic development, regional integration and poverty eradication in West Africa. We urge the President and Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces of Ghana, His Excellency Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo not to even contemplate deploying troops to fight in Niger. It will be a disaster that will haunt Ghana for a very long time if he makes that mistake.
“We urge all Organised Labour groups in Ghana, Nigeria and other countries in the region to form alliance with progressive civil society organisations including religious and faith-based groups, students, youth groups, women groups and traditional leaders to stand up against any attempt to declare war on our sisters and brothers in the Republic of Niger.”
The full statement reads:
PRESS STATEMENT ON THE SITUATION IN THE REPUBLIC OF NIGER
At its meeting on Friday, 18th August, 2023, at the Trade Union Hall in Accra, the Executive Committee of TUC discussed the situation in Niger.
The leadership of TUC strongly condemn the Abdourahamane Tchiani-led coup d’etat in Niger that toppled the constitutionally-elected government under the leadership of President Mohamed Bazoum.
Democracy remains one of the key values of the Trades Union Congress and other labour movements across the globe. Any act that disturbs the constitutional order in any country needs to be condemned because it takes that society back to the old order where a few people illegally take and usurp power that belongs to the people. The TUC will always support democracy because that is the only way to ensure respect for constitutional order, respect for rule of law, respect for human rights including the rights of workers, separation of powers and respect for the rights of women and men as groups and as individuals.
Ghana and many other countries in West Africa have experienced military rule. The military regimes, despite their claims and justifications for taking over, could not move the region forward in terms of social and economic development. West Africa remains the poorest region in the world. Over half of the population of the region is suffering severe poverty and destitution, in spite of the enormous natural resources in the region. We do not need the military in power anywhere in the region or in Africa. All efforts must, therefore, be made to deepen and sustain democracy on the continent by creating and strengthening democratic institutions.
The leadership of TUC equally condemn the attempt by ECOWAS to use force to restore constitutional order in the Republic of Niger. We hold a strong view that any attempt to remove the Tchiani-led military junta in Niger by force will further escalate the tension and the insecurity in the region. There is simply no reason for ECOWAS to wage a war in Niger, more so when there is no consensus among ECOWAS members. A war in Niger or anywhere in the region has a very great potential to create the environment for more insurgents and even more coup d’etats in the region which may lead to further instability and insecurity.
No one can impose democracy on any country until and unless the people themselves are ready for it. The lessons from Afghanistan are still very fresh in our minds and so we have no excuse to send our military men and women to die in Niger. We need them at home to protect us from the insurgents and external forces who are gradually but surely coming close to our borders with neighboring countries.
ECOWAS must focus on its original and core mandate of economic development, regional integration and poverty eradication in West Africa. We urge the President and Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces of Ghana, His Excellency Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo not to even contemplate deploying troops to fight in Niger. It will be a disaster that will haunt Ghana for a very long time if he makes that mistake.
We urge all Organised Labour groups in Ghana, Nigeria and other countries in the region to form alliance with progressive civil society organisations including religious and faith-based groups, students, youth groups, women groups and traditional leaders to stand up against any attempt to declare war on our sisters and brothers in the Republic of Niger.
We believe that through diplomacy, constitution order can be re-established in the Republic of Niger if ECOWAS leaders engage the military junta in good faith, with clean hearts and clear minds. We urge the military junta to return to constitutional rule immediately to preempt any senseless war in our region.
We do not need war in West Africa. We need peace, social and economic development and stability. That is what we want our leaders to focus on.
Dr. Yaw Baah
Secretary General Accra, 19th August 2023
