The “unfortunate and regrettable” coup d’état in Guinea

President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo described as regrettable and unfortunate the military uprising in Guinea which overthrew the government of President Alpha Condé.

The president said so during the opening of an emergency virtual summit of ECOWAS heads of state and government on the political crisis in Guinea. Bright Ntramah filed this report.

Guinean special forces seized power earlier this week in a coup, arrested President Condé and promised to change the political makeup of that country.

The coup had been condemned worldwide by ECOWAS, the AU, the United States and France calling for the unconditional release of the ousted president. The virtual emergency meeting will discuss, among other things, ways to bring Guinea back to constitutional rule after a military takeover in that country.

President Akufo-Addo, who is the president of the regional bloc, congratulated his fellow leaders for the quick response to the meeting and without hesitation.

He said the response is a testament to the strength and commitment to the goals of ECOWAS.

“First of all, I want to thank all of you, especially the Heads of State, for moving so quickly and without hesitation to be present at this meeting. I believe that the way in which the leadership of ECOWAS responds in times of crisis is the surest testimony to the strength and commitment we all have to the goals of our regional organization.

We all know the main topic that brought us here which is the unfortunate and regrettable incident that took place in Guinea and it is to discuss it and to discuss our response to this blatant violation of our common charter of good governance in the ECOWAS region and therefore what decisions we want to take in response, ”said President Akufo Addo.

Guinea has since been suspended from the bloc and an ECOWAS mediator is expected in the country later today.