Ghana President Nana Akufo-Addo disclosed this on Thursday at the opening of the first Ordinary Session of the fifth legislature of the ECOWAS parliament in Abuja.
Mali President Bah Ndaw and Prime Minister Moctar Ouane were said to have been taken to a military base outside the capital on Monday after a cabinet reshuffle in which two officers lost their posts, but the latest report said they have been released.
Akufo-Addo said though he was yet to receive proper briefing from the Former President Goodluck Jonathan led committee that went to Mali, he however said the emergency summit has become imperative.
He said, “I authorized the ECOWAS mediation delegation to Mali which is headed by former Nigerian President, Goodluck Jonathan to go to Mali and do an assessment on the entire situation.”
The Ghananian president said once he is briefed, he will summon an emergency extraordinary session of heads of states and government of the ECOWAS region to review the relationship between ECOWAS and Mali
Also, President of ECOWAS Commission, Jean-Claude Kassi Brou said the Commission will have to brief the various organs of ECOWAS and ensure that a decision is taken.
He noted that as a community, ECOWAS has engaged the current authorities in Mali for the immediate release of the former Interim President and former Interim Prime Minister.
On his part, Speaker of ECOWAS Parliament, His Excellency Rt Honourable Dr Sidie Mohamed Tunis strongly condemned the military takeover in Mali.
He said, “earlier this year, I led a Parliamentary Fact-Finding Mission to that Country and held discussions with all Stake Holders in the transition process. We were assured by all parties of their commitment towards a transition to democratic rule.” Unfortunately, the Speaker said “we have observed a few days ago, a dramatic shift in the political situation, which led to the arrest of the Transitional President, His Excellency Bah N’Daw and the Prime Minister, Mr. Moctar Ouane.”
“The ECOWAS Parliament condemns, in the strongest terms, the military takeover in Mali and all acts in the region that threatens or stalls the process of entrenching Democracy across our States.
“We have made many efforts in securing a peaceful and stable ECOWAS and it is about time we take firm and decisive actions against forces that tend to reverse this trend,” adding that “the ECOWAS Parliament stands ready to support all efforts aimed at putting Mali on the right trajectory of peace and democracy.”
