TUC AGAINST WAR IN NIGER

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The Trades Union Congress of Ghana (TUC) has vehemently condemned the attempt by the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) to use force to restore constitutional order in the Republic of Niger.

In a statement signed by Dr. Yaw Baah, Secretary General, the TUC urged “all organized labour groups in Ghana, Nigeria and other countries in the region to form alliance with progressive civil society organizations including religious and faith based groups, students, youth groups women’s groups and traditional leaders to stand up against any attempt to declare war on our sisters and brothers in the Republic of Niger”.

It “urged the President and Commander-In-Chief of the Armed Forces of Ghana, His Excellency Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo not to even contemplate deploying Ghanaian troops to fight in Niger”.

The statement said this will be “a disaster that will haunt Ghana for a very long time if he makes that mistake”.

The full text of statement is published below;

At its meeting held on Friday, 18^th August, 2023, at the Trade Union Hall in Accra, the Executive Committee of TUC discussed the situation in Niger

The leadership remains one TUC strongly condemn the Abdourahamane Tchiani-led coup d’état in Niger that toppled the constitutionally-elected government under the leadership of President Mohammed Bazoum.

 Democracy remains one of the key values of the Trade 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 legally 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 power, 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 urged the President and Commander-In-Chief of the Armed Forces of Ghana, His Excellency Nana Addo Dankwa Akuffo-Addo not to even contemplate deploying Ghanaian troops to fight in Niger. It disaster that will haunt Ghana for a very long time if he makes that mistake.

We urges all Organized Labour groups in Ghana, Nigeria and other countries in the region to form alliance with progressive civil society organizations including religious and faith based groups, students, youth groups women’s 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, constitutional 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 Niger 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.

Signed

Dr. Yaw Baah

Secretary General TUC