Democracy not panacea to war and conflicts in Africa - Antwi-Danso

Elmina (C/R), Sept. 8, GNA - Dr Vladimir Antwi-Danso, a Research Fellow in International Affairs at the University of Ghana, Legon said on Sunday that democracy is not a panacea to conflicts and wars in Africa.

He said as much as democracy is important to the development of any nation the situation in Africa is different and it should not be imposed on people of the continent.

Dr Antwi-Danso said this when he opened the second West African Peace Building Institute (WAPI) conference at Elmina.

The conference, which would deliberate on issues pertaining to peace building, is being organised by the West Africa Network for Peace Building (WANEP).

Representatives from 13 African countries including, Ghana, Nigeria, Liberia, Cote d' Ivoire, The Gambia, Sierra Leone, Burkina Faso and Madagascar are attending.

Dr Antwi-Danso said conflicts are endemic in society and cannot easily be wished away and Africa should not concentrate only on peace building but also on conflict resolution.

He commended WAPI for its efforts in enhancing peace building on the continent and tasked the participants to come out with the "parameters and logic" that would help people on the continent to contain conflicts.

Mr Emmanuel Bombande, WANEP Programme Director, said until 1998 there was no conflict resolution mechanism in West Africa and this culminated in wars.

He commended the government of Ghana in its efforts to bring peace to Africa particularly, the West Africa Sub-Region, and said the Institute is aimed at uplifting the dignity of Africans.

Mr Sam Doe, WANEP Executive Director, expressed concern about the escalating war situation in Liberia and expressed regret that Liberia is now seeing nothing but misery and pain.

He said the Western World went through similar tribulations that most African countries are going through now but were able to resolve them appropriately.