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Political Players In Nigeria Must Respect ECOWAS Protocols—COYLIB

By COALITION OF YOUNG LIBERALS (COYLIB)
Press Release Political Players In Nigeria Must Respect ECOWAS Protocols—COYLIB
JAN 26, 2015 LISTEN

Although we are still in the early days of 2015, President John Dramani Mahama's promise of change of direction and proper service to humanity by placing the interest of citizens first, seems to be a mirage.

Certain developments emerging in the first month of the year appear to be setting the tone for the worse to come.

The Coalition of Young Liberals (COYLIB) is very much unhappy that the Ghanaian President, doubling as the Chair for ECOWAS, is sitting unconcern and allowing a breach of sub-regional body's protocol by the Nigerian President Goodluck Jonathan and the main opposition leader Muhammadu Buhari.

The past weeks have witnessed a growing number of campaign billboards of the two political players canvassing for votes in Ghana in their upcoming February 14 Presidential Election.

The leadership of Mahama's administration must be very careful not to use Ghana as a breeding ground for chaos as Nigerians living in Ghana does not only belong to President Goodluck Jonathan's ruling party (Peoples Democratic Party).

COYLIB would have welcome Goodluck's message in Ghana, if his team had advertised “Made in Nigeria” products without necessarily his candidature on giant billboards spanning across Accra.

It is only in communist societies that political leaders can cross border and advertise their candidature to people that has absolute nothing to do with them.

The advertising agency mandated to supervise such advertisement has lost its common conversional sense of knowledge and the ability to defend citizens from such intrusion in our motherland.

Ghanaians hold pride in their independence and sovereignty, and we respect mutual cross-border trades without recourse to any particular government in power.

COYLIB expected the Advertising Association of Ghana (AAG) to act in accordance with the objectives of the institution to promote the national interest rather than engaging in activities that undermines their credibility.

An institution of this calibre should have advised the security agencies before allowing these billboards to be put across the length and breadth of the capital city.

We wish to place the following on record:
• The world is currently at crossroads with terrorism and out of previous two elections in Nigeria gave birth to Boko Haram.These insurgents are alleged in the Nigeria press to be fuelled by the very politicians who are now parading the corridors of our city, Accra.

• The security threat of these 'political insurgents' drives away investors and businesses with most corporations not willing to risk their capitals in one way or the other which in turn affects our ailing economy.

• Yes, COYLIB understands that there are Nigerians living in Ghana peacefully and President Goodluck Jonathan wanted to reach them but the onus lays on his performance not his candidature.

• A Nigerian living in Ghana understands the democratic processes adapted by Ghana for more than two decades now and this underpins Magna Carta main principles in our society.

We are extremely worried that such developments will not only make Ghana an enemy to Nigeria's main opposition party should the table turn in their favour in the coming elections, but will also stall our relations with them.

We are therefore calling on the Nigerian High Commissioner to Ghana, Ambassador Ademola Oluseyi Onafowokan to call his compatriots to order and reaffirm his commitment to the ECOWAS treaty of free movements not intrusion of member states.

COYLIB also urge the Ghanaian Foreign Ministry to act quickly and direct the Nigerian authorities to respect ECOWAS protocols within the sub-region and ensure harmony between both countries.

COALITION OF YOUNG LIBERALS (COYLIB)
COYLIB LEADERSHIP

SIGNED:

Samuel O Donkor (Convener of the COYLIB -- +44 07984401983)

Justice Appiah Antwi (Leading Member, 0242360411)

George Adjei (Leading member, 0249582964)

Nana Ansah Oborfour (Leading Member, 07411461007)

Nicholas Adjei (Leading Member, Sweden)

Nana S Amponsah (Leading Member)

Kwame Owusu (Leading Member)

Nana Owusu Boakye (Leading Member, USA)

(GHANA, UK, USA, BELGIUM, SWEDEN, CHINA , GERMANY)

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