Rawlings Receives West African Military Chiefs

ACCRA, Ghana (PANA) - Ghanaian President Jerry Rawlings has called for unity and co-operation among West African countries in their efforts to curb crippling conflicts in the sub-region.

He said recent experiences showed that few countries are prepared to contribute peacekeeping troops when the need arises, thus leaving the burden of maintaining peace in West Africa on a few countries.

"Some countries send small number of soldiers, who are not trained to operate as fighting forces. This is not good enough. If we are soldiers let us prove our worth," he told chiefs of defence staff of some ECOWAS-member countries in Accra Thursday.

The defence chiefs of Ghana, Mali, Nigeria, Senegal, Guinea, Burkina Faso, Gambia, Niger, Liberia, Benin and Togo, constituting ECOWAS Commission on Security and Defence, are meeting in Accra to map out strategies to ensure security in the sub-region. C?te d'Ivoire is being represented by a minister.

Rawlings said formation of the commission at this time was important because recent events had demonstrated it was through military collaboration that conflicts could be resolved in the sub-region.

However, this does not mean individual countries should not accept offers from other developed countries such as former colonial masters, who might wish to establish parallel institutions.

"But this parallel institutions should be for our collective good. They should not be used to divide us. Our collective survival is important," he added.

Rawlings said there was justification for the formation of the commission taking into account the number of conflicts and potential conflicts in the sub-region.

"We have so many conflicts on our hands. What better justification do we have to form such a commission? But we do not want plans on paper. We want plans that can be implemented," he explained.

He said a strong stand-by force could serve as a deterrent to countries that might want to "step out of line," citing NATO's action in Yugoslavia as an example.

"Our collective strength can serve as a deterrent," the Ghanaian leader added.

He acknowledged the economic difficulties most countries in the sub-region face and said developed countries have a responsibility "to assist us. We are getting positive signals now and we hope assistance would be forthcoming."

Rawlings spoke about some of the difficulties Ghana is facing by accepting refugees from some West African countries and said some of them are engaging in criminal activities.

Turning to Lansana Kouyate, executive secretary of ECOWAS, he said: "Come and take the refugees away. The countries they come from now have democratic governments."

Kouyate said although it is important to prepare militarily, intervention is not the answer to conflicts.

"We have to attack the root causes of the problem. These include poverty, manipulation by politicians and interference from outside," he said.

Kwamena Ahwoi, Ghana's planning and regional economic co-operation and integration minister, said there should be co-operation between civilians and the military to promote peace in the sub-region.

"We should also sensitise the military on economic and political issues," he added.

Ghana's chief of defence staff, Lt. Gen. Ben Akafia, and his Nigerian counterpart, Rear Adm. Ibrahim Ogohi, called for support from the political leadership of West African countries so that their plans could be translated into action.

Akafia said "the political goodwill is important. We should take our destiny in our hands in the sub-region."

Ogohi added "we cannot solve conflicts by military action alone. We have to look for other options and in this we will be looking up to our political leaders."