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ECOWAS will succeed if it intervenes in Niger coup – Mahama Ayariga
The Member of Parliament for Bawku Central and a member of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) Parliament, Mahama Ayariga, says the regional bloc will succeed even with the slightest effort if it intervenes in the Niger coup.
On July 27, soldiers, primarily from the presidential guard, seized Niger’s President Mohamed Bazoum, leading to the dissolution of the constitution, suspension of all institutions, and the closure of the nation’s borders. President Mohamed Bazoum remains in the custody of the presidential guard.
Speaking in an interview with Bernard Avle on The Point of View on Citi TV on Wednesday, Mr. Ayariga said he believed that the Nigerien security forces could not match up to ECOWAS, and that is why the latter would succeed if it intervened.
“I do not think that the Nigerien security apparatus has the capacity to withstand the combined efforts of West Africa,” he said.
“If they decide to intervene, and they even make in my opinion a minimum effort, I believe they will succeed. The reason is that the Nigerian security apparatus is not united behind the president’s guard unit that is really behind this coup.”
Meanwhile, Colonel Festus Aboagye (Rtd.) cautioned ECOWAS to be careful with how it is handling the process to restore democracy in Niger.
The security analyst condemned the regional bloc’s threat to intervene using the military. He described the move as hasty.
Col. Aboagye said he expects ECOWAS to recalibrate its decisions and consult with the various military chiefs stationed in the country and the Sahel region on the requirements, cost, and risk involved in intervening militarily.
He particularly cautioned the regional bloc to take into consideration the interests of some superpowers in the crisis so as not to complicate the situation further.
Credit: Citinewsroom.com
The spokesperson for Dr. Bawumia, Dennis Miracles Aboagye, has criticised the implementation of the NDC government’s No Fee Stress policy, arguing that the programme has failed to deliver on its core promise.
According to him on Starr fm, the policy, which was introduced to ensure stress free payment of fees for level 100 tertiary students, has rather turned into what he described as post stress support.
He explained that students are required to pay their fees first before applying for reimbursement, a situation he believes defeats the purpose of the policy.
He questioned claims by government officials that the policy has been successful and that citizens are happy.
In his view, such claims do not reflect the lived realities of many Ghanaians. He stressed that while some people may appear satisfied, many others continue to struggle.
Dennis Miracles Aboagye pointed to the situation of trained teachers and nurses who have been picketing for nearly six months, demanding employment.
He noted that government responses suggesting it cannot accommodate all of them contradict claims of economic stability.
He further argued that economic indicators such as a stable currency mean little to people who are unable to secure jobs or access promised support.
He observed that telling an unemployed teacher or a struggling student that the cedi has strengthened does not address their immediate challenges.
On the issue of tertiary education, he maintained that no level 100 student benefited from stress free fees in 2025, despite the policy being announced.
He added that in 2026, students have already reported to school without receiving the promised support.
He insisted that asking students to pay fees first and seek reimbursement later amounts to support after hardship, not stress free education.
According to him, this approach goes against what was promised during the policy announcement.
Dennis Miracles Aboagye questioned why a government that presents the economy as strong is unable to fulfil what he described as simple and clear promises.
He added that there is a fundamental problem with the way the economy is being managed and indicated that he is prepared to explain his position further.
By: Jacob Aggrey
Dancehall musician Shatta Wale has issued a strong public statement calling for an end to what he describes as continuous attacks on his brand, following an apology from media commentator Awal Mohammed.
In the statement, Shatta Wale acknowledged the apology but stressed that persistent criticism and what he sees as deliberate attempts to damage his image must stop.
He noted that for many years, he has spoken for the streets, the youth, and people who feel ignored by society, while also promoting Ghana on the global stage and creating jobs through his work.
He expressed concern that some media personalities, commentators, and influential figures continue to target his name unfairly.
According to him, the issue goes beyond music and touches on respect, fairness, and national maturity.
The musician warned that continued disrespect toward voices that represent ordinary people could have wider consequences.
He emphasised that the Shatta Movement remains strong and organized, and that the patience of the masses should not be taken for granted.
He added that if systems continue to fail the people, they have the ability to organize politically through numbers and truth, not violence or hate.
Shatta Wale clarified that his message was not a threat but a reminder of reality, stressing that attacking a symbol that represents millions of people can have social, cultural, and democratic effects.
He called for respect, fairness, and unity, saying the voice of the people will always rise.
The statement comes after Awal Mohammed recently described Shatta Wale fans during a public discussion as junkies.
The comments triggered backlash from fans of the musician, prompting Awal to later issue an apology.
By: Jacob Aggrey
