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| T O P I C R E V I E W |
| Momodou |
Posted - 20 May 2015 : 09:14:57
Sidi Sanneh: Gambia and Togo oppose presidential term limit at ECOWAS Summit
The proposal to introduce term limits for presidents in the West Africa region fail to gather the necessary unanimous support from the 16 Member regional body of ECOWAS.
Gambia's Yaya Jammeh and Togo's Faure Gnassingbe were the only two presidents of the 16-member of ECOWAS who opposed the proposal. Yaya Jammeh seized power illegally in 1994. He transformed himself into a civilian president in 1996 and is currently serving his fourth 5-year term, in addition to the first two year in which he was head of the Armed Forces Provisional Ruling Council. Twenty two years in the presidency, he's one of Africa's longest-serving leader.
By comparison, Faure Gnessingbe was reelected to his third 5-year term last April amid protest from the opposition. He succeeds his father Gnassingbe Eyadema who died in office, extending the family dynasty to nearly a half-century.
The number of those supporting the proposal came as a surprise to many who thought that the west African region was, at one stage in its history, littered with dictators most of whose rule ended violently.
The proposal was tabled before the ECOWAS Summit held in Accra, Ghana chaired by John Mahama, president of Ghana and Chairman of the regional group. Yaya Jammeh did not attend for reasons only known to him. He was instead represented by his Vice President, Isatou Njie-Saidy and Foreign Minister Neneh Macdouall-Gaye.
Speaking to Reuters after the session, Ghana's Foreign Minister, Hannah Tetteh, said that "this dissenting view (from Gambia and Togo) became the majority view at the end of the day."
Although the proposal failed to attract unanimous consent, it did show that 14 out of 16 of the Member States strongly support the proposal. Benin's Yayi Boni, who briefly toyed with the idea of running for a third term quickly dropped the idea and joined the majority of the ECOWAS Heads of State in support of a well overdue idea of getting rid of perpetual presidency. A Movement will grow out of the idea of term limits for all African presidents.
Related Topic: W. African leaders drop term limit idea after Gambia, Togo oppose
By Reuters
Read more: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/wires/reuters/article-3088315/W-African-leaders-drop-term-limit-idea-Gambia-Togo-oppose.html |
| 3 L A T E S T R E P L I E S (Newest First) |
| Momodou |
Posted - 20 May 2015 : 22:20:43
THE ISSUE OF TWO TERM LIMIT
Foroyaa Editorial: Published on May 20, 2015
Information spread like wild fire that the heads of state of ECOWAS member states were going to deliberate on the issue of two term limit for the Presidency in West AfricaHence when the heads of state started their Summit in Ghana the absence of the Gambian head of state sent signals that The Gambia government would not support the move.
Apparently, both Gambia and Togo opposed the two term limit. Nigeria the most populous state has established a term limit. This policy is the most effective method of putting an end to a monarchy like presidency.
There is definite indication that what ever a leader cannot achieve in ten years cannot be achieved in 20 years. Hence the best way of exploiting the talents in a country is to ensure that one person does not lead for a lifetime. |
| Momodou |
Posted - 20 May 2015 : 15:27:46
The Point: W/African leaders drop term limit idea after Gambia, Togo oppose
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| Momodou |
Posted - 20 May 2015 : 13:19:49
West African leaders drop third-term ban proposal
BBC Online
The Gambia, whose President Yahya Jammeh has been in power for four terms, opposed the term-limit plan
A plan to restrict West African presidents to two terms in office has been dropped for the time being by heads of state.
They discussed the proposal to impose limits at a regional summit.
Togo and The Gambia, both with presidents who have been in power for more than two terms, opposed the idea, diplomats say.
The third-term issue has caused a lot of controversy in several African states in recent years.
Burkina Faso's President Blaise Compaore was forced out of office last year after plans to run for a third term.
There is currently political tension in East Africa as Burundi's President Pierre Nkurunziza is hoping to win a third term in office.
The constitutions of most West African states already impose a two-term limit.
The proposal discussed at Tuesday's Ecowas summit in the Ghanaian capital, Accra, was supposed to formalise this across the region.
Protests in Burkina Faso blocked an attempt to change the constitution to allow for third terms
The UN representative in West Africa Mohammed Ibn Chambas backed the plan and said it had been triggered by the failed attempt by President Compaore to change the constitution to allow him to run for a third term.
But the BBC's Sammy Darko in Accra says that it was not adopted as Togo and The Gambia had reservations.
"This dissenting view became the majority view at the end of the day," the Reuters news agency quotes Ghana's Foreign Minister Hanna Tetteh as saying.
The plan has now been deferred for further consultation.
There was a small protest against Gambian President Yahya Jammeh outside the summit
Togo's President Faure Gnassingbe has been in power since 2005 and won a third term in office last month.
Gambian President Yahya Jammeh is reaching the end of his fourth term in office after coming to power in a coup in 1994.
President Jammeh told the BBC in 2011 that presidents should be judged on what they do in power not by the length of time they have been in office.
"I will deliver to the Gambian people and if I have to rule this country for one billion years, I will, if Allah says so," he said.
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