Ousted Burkina Faso President, Blaise Compaore, would have been welcomed in Ghana had he chosen to flee to the country, according to Vice-President, Kwesi Amissah-Arthur.
Mr. Amissah- Arthur stated that Blaise Compaore “is an African leader” and should be accorded all the respect due him.
[contextly_sidebar id=”UQKJLnPm7c80INdgkdmoORZ2TBSjLaUz”]“[Blaise Compaore] is an African leader and he has served for a long time, he is a member of ECOWAS and if he wants to come here, if the government of Ghana feels that it is a friendly act to the people of Burkina Faso to help them resolve their internal problems, we will be very amenable,” he said.
Blaise Compaore stepped down as president of Burkina Faso after protests against a proposed amendment of the constitution by the Parliament, that would have extended the president’s stay in power, intensified .
Compaore had earlier stated that he would not resign from his position, leading to more protests in the capital Ougadougou.
A house belonging to the ousted president’s brother was ransacked
Earlier reports indicated that a heavily armed convoy believed to be carrying Mr Compaore was travelling towards the southern town of Po, leading to suggestions that the deposed leader could be heading to Ghana.
The news sparked debate among political analysts in the country who were against granting asylum to the leader.
The Managing Editor of the Insight Newspaper, Kwesi Pratt, described Campaore as a “dangerous leader” who has a history of fomenting trouble in some West African countries.
The Minister for Interior Mark Woyogo disclosed to Citi News Burkina Faso has closed its border to Ghana but denied that it was to prevent the former Burkina Faso leader from entering Ghana.
However, Mr. Amissah-Arthur, rejected the claims that Mr. Compaore was in the country, saying: “The distance between Po and the Ghana border is very short. If you [called] somebody that he was there, within the time [of the call], he would be in Ghana. He is not here.”
The BBC has also reported that Mr. Compaore has since fled to the Ivory Coast.
Meanwhile, thousands of people, led by opposition parties and civic groups have gathered in Burkina Faso on Sunday in protest at the army takeover after the resignation of President Blaise Compaore.
Kabre Ahmidou, a journalist in the West African country said that about “five thousand poeple had gathered” to protest against the army’s takeover.
The Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) has criticised the military takeover in Burkina Faso saying that it will not “recognize any ascension to power through non constitutional means,” in the midst of the current political challenges.
President Mahama said ECOWAS had followed with “grave attention the events unfolding in Burkina Faso and the tension around the process leading to the consideration of the draft bill on constitutional amendment.”
By: Edwin Kwakofi/citifmonline.com/Ghana
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