President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo has issued an order to maintain the country's peace and stability at all times.
"Let us cherish jealously the peace and stability we are enjoying," he stated during the 65th Independence Day ceremony in Cape Coast on Sunday March 6. There are those restless spirits among us who, in order to profit from the nation's current challenges, pretend to have lost faith in our democratic system.
"The elements motivating their thirst for the short cut of military intervention are either their lack of faith in the prospect of a democratic alternative to the current government or their impatience to wield executive authority."
"Whatever the case may be, they appear willing to jeopardize our country's hard-won reputation as a beacon of democracy and stability in Africa, if not the world, in order to further their personal ambitions, ambitions that show little or no respect for the Ghanaian people's ability to change their government peacefully through the ballot box when necessary, as we have done three times in the fourth republic's 29-year history."
"The vast majority of us who are committed to democratic values and institutions will continue to resist these adventurers' claims and will use all legitimate means available in our democracy to maintain our free, open system of governance that respects human rights, the rule of law, and democratic accountability principles."
Professor Raymond Atuguba, the Dean of the Faculty of Law at the University of Ghana, and former Executive Secretary to Former President John Dramani Mahama, recently stated that Ghana is currently a fertile ground for coups due to the country's dire economic circumstances.
Prof. Atuguba urged the government to acknowledge and address the economic crisis.
"We don't want a coup in our nation, but if we don't move swiftly, we might find ourselves in the middle of one." There is just one thing to do right now: avoid a coup in Ghana, because the climate and environment, both domestically and internationally, are favourable to one. We must press the administration, and prior governments to a greater extent, to acknowledge the current economic catastrophe.
"Ghana's economic difficulties began before Covid-19. Overall, Covid-19 was beneficial to Africa and Ghana," he stated at a Solidare Ghana seminar.
A part of the Ghanaian population chastised Prof Atuguba for his remark.
Professor David Abdulai, Senior Advisor at the Africa Parliamentarians Network Against Corruption, stated that the circumstances that led to the recent fall of constitutionally-elected administrations in other West African countries are not the same as those in Ghana.
Professor Abdulai remarked on TV3's Key Point on Saturday, March 5, that "I don't think it's acceptable if the implication is to endorse what happened in Mali, Guinea, and Burkina Faso because each nation has its own context and culture."
"So if you assume that in the situation of Ghana, I don't think it's correct contextually." One must also consider the fact that, when comparing the developmental stages of these countries, Ghana is far ahead of the pack.
"No one wants a coup because, first and foremost, in the modern digital and globalized environment, it will have a significant impact on our economy, and it will take years to recover because once some enterprises leave, they will not return." Ghana's image will be tarnished as well. However, in a democracy, such discussions or warnings should be taken seriously."
Dr. Steve Manteaw, a civil society activist and chairman of the Civil Society Platform on Oil and Gas, had previously stated that one of the causes of coups in most nations is the lack of an alternative to the ruling party.
He said that the people must have no other choice but to take the law into their own hands if they are to consider altering the administration.
However, he claimed that this is not the situation in Ghana.
"Professor Atuguba was forthright and brutally frank," Dr. Manteaw wrote on Facebook. There's no malice here. However, he left out one requirement for coups: the people must have no other means of overthrowing the government, which is not the situation in Ghana."
"Professor Atuguba was forthright and brutally frank," Dr. Manteaw wrote on Facebook. There's no malice here. However, he left out one requirement for coups: the people must have no other means of overthrowing the government, which is not the situation in Ghana."
Adansi Asokwa Adansi Asokwa Adansi Asokwa Following Professor Atuguba's coup remark, Member of Parliament Kobina Tahir (KT) Hammond also took a shot at him.
KT Hammond questioned why, in his opinion, some members of the opposition National Democratic Congress (NDC), whom he termed as reckless, constantly demand for military intervention in the country's administration when the New Patriotic Party (NPP) is in power.
"Why is it that during the NPP administration, every time that the NDC gets, not all of them to be fair, but the reckless ones are clamoring for military intervention?" KT Hammond asked at a press conference in Parliament on Wednesday, March 2.
"What is it about the military that appeals to you?"
"Let me tell Professor Atuguba that he does not have the right to leave his brain, not even half of his brain.
"Why is it that during the NPP administration, every time that the NDC gets, not all of them to be fair, but the reckless ones are clamoring for military intervention?" KT Hammond asked at a press conference in Parliament on Wednesday, March 2.
"What is it about the military that appeals to you?"
"Let me tell Professor Atuguba that he does not have the right to leave his brain, not even half of his brain.
"He owes it to his students and the constitution that no one, even himself, has the right to utter the things he has stated." He is a professor of law, and he is well-versed in the United States Constitution.
"Anyone who attempts to subvert the constitution commits the offence that he knows, he goes to make a statement like this," says the constitution.
"The military knows what they're doing; they're a professional institution whose responsibility is to guide the country's territorial integrity, period," he continued. "They're not interested in dabbling in politics."
We are all witnesses to these events because the group before them dabbled in politics. They are uninterested; officers are professionals, and rank and file members are professionals who understand their responsibilities. It is not Atuguba's style to invite them to hold the country hostage.
"Clearly, he is an NDC sympathizer, and certainly, I am aware that at one time he worked in the President's office, he is an NDC sympathizer, but that is not an issue, because the constitution permits the people of Ghana to speak at regular intervals."
"The last one was in 2020, we had an election, four more years, we spent approximately a year and a half after that, and now we're going to have an election."
"It is for the people of the country to pass their judgment if they do not like the NPP administration because they believe we messed up; it is not for someone who thinks he knows the law and has studied the law to go around flaunting foolishness like that."
"I'll be astonished if they haven't invited him already." "It's complete nonsense."
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