Ghana Needs Ghana (GNG) a nongovernmental organization (NGO) has called on African leaders to engage their citizens on pertinent issues affecting them in efforts to curb the occurrences of coup d’états which was gradually gaining grounds on the continent.
According to the NGO, coups have the tendency of plunging nations into chaos which could lead to loss of lives and property and must therefore not be encouraged.
However, finding the root causes of such issues, President of GNG Reverend Mrs Patience Mensah said, meant listening to the people and taking steps to address their grievances.
She said, “We the youth deserve to be respected and given various opportunities that will make us successful in all our endeavours but unfortunately this is not what we get to see in some African countries, therefore it is time for our leaders to listen to us.”
She also called on the government of Ghana to manage the country’s economy judiciously while fighting corruption with all the seriousness it deserved.
Mrs Mensah also urged Ghanaians to make leaders of the country accountable to ensure that both current and successive governments remain “on top of good governance.”
According to the human rights activist, it was very necessary for every member of the public to condemn coups and embrace democracy to promote peaceful co-existence.
She emphasized that coup d’états could have significant consequences, both for the countries where they occur and for the international community as well because they lead to political instability, disrupting existing governments.
The instability she said could persist for an extended period, making it difficult to establish effective governance.
“Political instability resulting from coups can disrupt economic activities. Businesses may suffer, foreign investments can also decrease due to the uncertain political environment.”
“Coup in one country can have destabilizing effect on neighbouring countries and countries, leading to refugee flows, cross-border conflicts , and regional tensions,” she added.
Mrs Mensah stressed the Africa does not need coups, adding that what was necessary is for the leaders to be sensitive to the needs of their people to avoid disturbances.
BY RAISS SAMBOU
