Inauguration of President Mahama through lenses of foreign policy, diplomacy

The Presidential inauguration of John Dramani Mahama and his Vice President, Prof. Naana Jane Opoku-Agyeman was a colourful spectacle, with a host of dignitaries from both domestic and international jurisdictions of the country. 

Over 21, heads of state and heads of governments, prime ministers, vice president across africa and beyond represented. Also, present were the delegations from the US government and members of the diplomatic corp.

Notably across, Africa every country within the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) was represented by either their president, prime minister, vice president, or key dignitary of their states.

Dignitaries

With President of Nigeria, and the Chairman of the ECOWAS, Bola Ahmed Tinubu, as the special guest, the President of Togo, Faure Gnassingbe; President of Benin, Patrice Talon; President of Guinea, Col. Mamadou Doumbouya; the President of Burkina Faso, Cpt. Ibrahim Traore, the President of Sierra Leone, Julius Maada Wonie Bio, occassion was a grand affair.

Also present were the President of Liberia, Joseph Boakai; the President of Cabo Verde, Jose Maria Jose; the President of Senegal, Bassirou Diomaye Diakhar Faye; the President of Gambia, Adama Barrow; the Prime Minister of Mali, Brigadier General Abdoulaye Maiga; the Prime Minister of Niger, Ali Mahaman Lamine Zeine; the Vice President of La Cote D’Ivoire, Tiemoko Meyliet Kone.

Beyond West Africa, the Rwandan President, Paul Kagame and the President of Kenya, William Ruto, the President of Gabon, General Brice Oligui Nguema; and the President of the Democratic Republic of Congo, Felix Tshisekedi.  

Foreign policy  

The invitation of dignitaries from the ECOWAS sub-region and other parts of the world is a clear representation of some of the country’s Foreign Policy (FP) objectives, such as, “good neighbourliness; regional integration; developing and sustaining international goodwill, solidarity and support for national development”.

The country is enviably the only country devoid of terrorist attack, and has been a long member of ECOWAS and maintained good alliances with its members since the creation of the Regional Economic Community (REC) in 1975.

Ghana, as many people may not know is one of the most respected countries, as far as diplomacy and international relations are concerned, and often attracts interest from the international community.

It has a long democratic practice earning the tag “beacon of democracy” in Africa with Ghanaians or repute contributing to international relations and diplomacy, in their various capacities at the UN, AU, ECOWAS and their agencies.

The country’s image and relations with Niger, Burkina Faso, Mali and Guinea dimmed in the past few years with military interventions in those nations.

Niger, Burkina Faso and Mali later formed the Alliance of Sahel States (ASS), following their withdrawal from the ECOWAS and their unwillingness to rejoin the ECOWAS, which had prevailed upon them to return to democratic rule, threatening sanctions.

Contributing to that rift with the Sahel States was their labelling as aligned and influenced by the Russian government.

This allegation was aptly condemned by the Burkinabe government.

Thus, the presence of Burkinabe President, Cpt. Traore, and the Prime Ministers of the Mali and Niger, is a a clear signal of friendship with the President Mahama-led administration. 

As often said in international relations, there are no permanent friends but permanent interests.

The diplomatic relations between Ghana and the three Sahel States may see an improvement as personalities and ideologies shape foreign policies and diplomatic ties. 

Based on the policies on the foreign policy of good neighbourliness, the John Mahama-led administration would seek to sustain the climate of peace and stability with the Sahel states and ECOWAS and maintain cordial relations with these countries to address some common challenges they face including terrorism, violent extremism, poverty and climate change.

This cordial relation would translate into the integration of the sub-region and maintain a good image for high diplomatic presence abroad and attract appreciable levels of foreign direct investments for the growth of the economy.

There is obviously a good sense in believing that, President Mahama could be the X factor that could mediate in the diplomatic stand-off between the ECOWAS and the Alliance of Sahel States, as he was not a member of the ECOWAS Heads of States who opted to sanction and threatened military invasion against them.