The Head of Policy Monitoring and Evaluation Unit at the Presidency, Dr. Tony Aidoo says the news Conference addressed by the opposition New Patriotic Party Leadership has exposed the party’s lack of understanding of international politics.
The NPP Flagbearer, Nana Akufo-Addo at a press conference on Thursday, January 20, called on President Mills to be bold and support ECOWAS’ decision of a legitimate military action in Cote D’Ivoire, pointing out that his inconsistency pertaining to his stance on the Ivorian crisis, has the potential of denting Ghana’s image in the eyes of the international community.
To him, the conflicting signals being sent out by the president portrays Ghana as inconsistent, unreliable and a dodgy partner in the ECOWAS sub-region.
But Dr. Tony Aidoo says the NPP has shown that if they ever return to power, they will send Ghana into a needless war.
The NDC Policy Monitor argued strongly that the ECOWAS communiqué signed by President Mills is a mere agreement in principle to stated terms and not bin ding to all participating countries.
Dr. Aidoo told Citi News that President Mills is therefore not bound to practically participate in the execution of the agreement.
“I think that Nana Akufo-Addo should not have made that press statement because it exposes him as excuse me to say, an ignoramus about the dynamics of international politics and the nuances of the rules and principles of international law. It is a very sad situation for Ghana that we once had somebody who was a Foreign Minister and at one time General Secretary of the Security Council of the United Nations, who has absolutely no knowledge at all” he stated.
“This is not my opinion because it is exposed in the argument that he makes. But to us in the NDC, we are glad that he has exposed himself as somebody who if he had been voted into power would have been a reckless rattling warmongering President and led us into war in Cote D’Ivoire. And Ghanaians are very lucky to have rejected this warmonger in December 2008” he said.
“First of all, the communiqué that was signed among ECOWAS countries, did not amount to a treaty. Neither was it a resolution or convention. Even at the level of treaty obligations, every nation is required to go back to his home country and ratify. Ratification means that you may have committed yourself in a gentleman’s agreement; so you need to domesticate the rules and principles involving the treaty. Tell me where in the communiqué it reveals that President Mills made a statement to the effect that when ECOWAS commits to send troops as a last resort, Ghana will send a contingent. You can agree in principle to a strategy without necessarily committing yourself to practical participation” he explained. ? In a sharp response, the Executive Director of the Danquah Institute, Gabby Asare Otchere Darko expressed shock at Dr. Aidoo’s analysis and advised him to depart from propaganda.
“What did Nana Addo say that shows he doesn’t understand international politics? If he believes that Nana Addo has been unfair to the President, he should state what exactly he said which is unfair. But to just say he is a war monger without giving a shred of evidence is uncalled for. When you are in charge of policy evaluation and monitoring, you owe it to whatever information that you have, to add a bit of value to prove what you say and how you analyse matters. If this is his understanding of international politics, then I will plead with Nana Addo to stay ignorant” he said.
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