Mahama pledges to resolve Mali crisis

President Mahama has reiterated his government’s commitment towards helping to resolve the current crisis in Mali.

“We need to consolidate the democracy in Mali by getting all the political partners to agree for new elections to be held so that we can have a democratic government in Mali,” President Mahama said.

He added that “we should also look at the rebels and see which part of them is amenable to discussions and then get them on our side”.

President Mahama who left Accra for the meeting on Wednesday, joined his colleague Heads of State to look at the situation in Mali and Guinea-Bissau and map out strategies to guarantee peace, unity and freedom in the sub-region.

At the opening of the 42 ECOWAS Summit of Heads of State in Yamoussoukro in La Cote D’Ivoire, ECOWAS President Kadre Desire Ouedraogo, has described Ghana’s conduct of the 2012 elections as free, fair and transparent.

He also gave Ghana rave reviews for being a beacon of democracy in the sub-region.

“Ghana has once again confirmed through the last Presidential election held on December 7, the degree of maturity and entrenchment of its democratic culture,” ECOWAS President Kadre Desire Ouedraogo said.

In his opening remarks, the Ivorian President and current Chairman of ECOWAS, Alhassane Quattara appealed to development partners to support the efforts of ECOWAS in guaranteeing lasting peace and stability in Mali and Guinea-Bissau.