Politics Africa

Ghana: Captain Traoré carrying a gun at the inauguration of the President of Ghana is causing concern

by admin on | 2025-01-12 12:16:01

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Burkina Faso's military ruler Captain Ibrahim Traoré caused concern when he attended Ghana's President John Mahama's swearing-in ceremony on Tuesday with a pistol strapped to his waist.

                                                   Captain Ibrahim Traore's pistol (left) was clearly seen with Ghana's new president John Mahama (right).

Some have said that these unusual features are a violation of security regulations.

Others saw it as a lack of faith in the ability of the Ghanaian authorities to protect the head of the ruling military gang in Burkina Faso.

It is not known whether Traoré had a license to carry the gun and Ghana's new government did not respond to the BBC's request for comment.

Mahama was sworn in after defeating the ruling party's candidate Mahamudu Bawumia in last month's election.

Traoré was one of 17 heads of state who attended the ceremony, and his visit came amid a tense diplomatic atmosphere in West Africa.

Burkina Faso, along with two other military-controlled countries – Mali and Niger, left the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS), all three forming a new union.

Security analyst Vladimir Antwi Danso said that it is unusual for a head of state to carry a sidearm (such as on his waist) and take it to the swearing-in ceremony, because the security of the visiting ruler is the responsibility of the host country.

He said that security officials from Ghana and Burkina Faso should have discussed the matter so that proper instructions could be followed. Dr Danso told the BBC: "That was not done or it was done badly."

Although another security analyst, retired Colonel Festus Aboagye, admits that the host country is usually responsible for protecting visiting presidents, he says bilateral arrangements could lead to change.

He agreed that an agreement could be reached whereby Traoré would be allowed to wear his military uniform and carry his sidearm, with some of his team members guarding him.

Colonel Aboagye said: "I don't think it was a violation of security regulations to the extent that people are saying, like he took out a gun to shoot. That is an exaggeration."

The AES (Alliance des États du Sahel), made up of Burkina Faso, Mali and Niger, accused the ECOWAS organization of trying to create security in these countries. That may have been on Traoré's mind when he attended the swearing-in ceremony.

But Emmanuel Bensah, who works on regional integration, said that the fact that a military ruler was "having a gun and showing that he has the power of that gun because he is a military ruler, and that he participated in a democratic convention, is somewhat disgusting. ".

Relations between Ghana and Burkina Faso have deteriorated, particularly after former Ghanaian President Nana Akufo-Addo accused Traoré of harboring Russian mercenaries.

Traoré's participation in the swearing-in ceremony was seen as an important sign of diplomacy aimed at improving relations between the two countries.

Ghana's contribution is crucial in helping Burkina Faso deal with the problem of Islamic extremists, who carry out deadly attacks on people in West African countries.

Marc N

www.andika.rw

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