DANGER! As ECOWAS Threatens To Invade La Cote D'Ivoire

Ghana more than any other country in the world will face a huge risk if ECOWAS carries out its threat to invade La Cote d'Ivoire and install Allassane Ouattarra as President of the West African Republic.

First, it is estimated that more than 1 million Ghanaians live in La Cote d'Ivoire and an invasion by ECOWAS forces would put all of them as well as other West African citizens at risk.

Liberia has already voiced its opposition to the ECOWAS decision on account of the safety of its citizen in La Cote d'Ivoire.

Nigerians in La Cote d'Ivoire have also asked their government not to participate in any adventure by soldiers from ECOWAS member states.

The Government of Ghana has already indicated that it will not contribute any troops to an ECOWAS force which will invade La Cote d'Ivoire.

Ghana faces other serious risk on account of her porous borders.

It could very easily become a base for the smuggling of arms in and out of La Cote d'Ivoire.

In the first war in La Cote d'Ivoire, irregular fighters from Sierra Leone and Liberia used Ghana as a staging post to fight on the side of rebels loyal to Ouattarra.

There were also credible reports of the movement of arms between Ghana and La Cote d'Ivoire.

Ghana's cocoa trade is also likely to suffer substantially as a result of the outbreak of war in La Cote d'Ivoire.

Large cocoa farms in Ghana lie on the border with La Cote d'Ivoire and some even stretch into that country.

With the escalation of war in La Cote d'Ivoire it might spread into border areas in Ghana.

By far the most serious risk is the possibility of Ghana's Jubilee Oil field which lies close to the Ivorian border coming under attack.

Ghana and the oil companies operating the field have so far spent more than US$2 billion on its development.

The oil spillage which will result from such an attack could be monumental and it is clear that Ghana is ill-prepared for such a situation.

Ghana will also be compelled to put its meager resources into taking in refugees from La Cote d'Ivoire.

From all indications a war in La Cote d'Ivoire could have very serious consequences for Ghana and other West African countries.

Originating at www.insightnewspaper.com