Ghana sends soldiers to Gambia to aid the implementation of ECOWAS operation meant to get President Yahya Jammeh to relinquish power
Commander In Chief of the Ghana Armed Forces, President Nana Akufo-Addo has approved the deployment of about 205 soldiers to the Islamic Republic of The Gambia, as part of an ECOWAS operation meant to get the country’s President Yahya Jammeh, to relinquish power.
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ECOWAS leaders had given President Yahya Jammeh yesterday, to concede defeat and allow for a peaceful transfer of power but Jammeh remained adamant. The Gambian President lost the election last year to his opponent Adama Barrow, but refused to abdicate the presidency citing electoral fraud.
Jammeh maintained there were irregularities in the election process, including the turning away of some of his supporters from polling stations, and errors made by the electoral commission.
After several failed attempts towards persuading the defeated President to concede defeat, ECOWAS have resorted to deploying military troops from its member states to The Gambia. ECOWAS objective is aimed at facilitating the inauguration of the President-Elect, Adama Barrow, in accordance with the Constitution of The Gambia.
Already, Senegalese troops have been seen moving towards the Gambian border in a show of force to pressure President Yahya Jammeh to stand down. Nigerian troops have also taken positions at the borders, to aid the implementation of the ECOWAS directive.
The Gambian looming political crisis has raised concerns among stakeholders across Africa and beyond. Several attempts to get the adamant President to rescind his decision have failed. He instead declared a state of emergency to avoid having to hand over power on Jan. 19 -the date set for the inauguration.
Though The African Union said they will stop recognizing Jammeh as Gambia’s President from then, the country’s Parliament on Jan 18, voted to extend Jammeh’s term by another three months.
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