Conflicts And Tension Across The Globe Needs Urgent Bilateral Relations Protect Territorial Integrity And Democracy-Speaker Bagbin

The Speaker of Ghana’s Parliament, Rt. Hon. Alban Sumana Kingsford Bagbin, has raised concerns about the escalating conflicts and tension across the globe, he called for urgent bilateral relations among countries to protect territorial integrity and democracy as well

He said the threats of invasion by terrorist groups such as Islamic jihadists and Boko Haram as well as piracy attacks required urgent collaboration to stop the threat to democratic values and norms.

The escalation of tension in the world today, particularly with the threats of invasion by fundamentalists, requires us to collaborate together and be able to save our territorial integrity

Holding a bilateral talk with his counterpart, Speaker of the Serbian National Assembly, Vladimir Orlic, in Kigali last Friday, Mr Bagbin said “There is an urgent need for us to up our game with our bilateral relations to stop the influence of these fundamentalists.

“We need to improve on our relationship, enhance cooperation and inter-country bilateral relations to be able to keep these things under control

The talks, which took place on the fringes of the 145th Inter-Parliamentary Union (IPU) assembly in Kigali, saw the leaders discussing how Ghana and Serbia could enhance existing cooperation to improve trade, investments, maritime security, technology and increase scholarships in the areas of education and agriculture.

Mr Bagbin noted that the upsurge in the activities by religious extremists, including Boko Haram and Islamic Jihadists, was destroying democracy in the Sahel region.

He mentioned France lending support to a number of countries to push back fundamentalists, today, France is under attack by many of the colonial countries in Africa that had risen against it.

He cited how two days ago extremists went to attack the Institute of Languages in Burkina Faso and destroyed some properties.

“So, there is some rise across by the Islamic jihadists who are trying to infiltrate and Ghana is really under attack,” he said.

Mr Speaker also highlighted the threat posed by Boko Haram which was causing havoc in Nigeria as well as the impact of climate change which triggered floods in Nigeria and Cameroon, killing hundreds of people.

Acknowledging that Serbia was caught in the war between Russia and Ukraine, Mr Bagbin said African countries “were not far from the impact of the war.

He indicated that the fragile economies of Africa were really overstretched and were collapsing, including the economy of Ghana.

The Majority Leader in Parliament and minister for parliamentary affairs Hon. Osei Kyei Mensah-Bonsu expressed worry about how the neighbouring country, Burkina Faso, had over 50 per cent of its territory to jihadists.

The terrorist group, he said, were now pushing down south, with Ghana becoming “a destined target.”

The French have been lending support to their formal colonial states but it looks like they have relaxed that is why Mali is now almost gone and Niger and Chad are under fierce attack.

“About six months ago, the jihadists came as close as about 17 kilometres to the northern boundary of Ghana and this is a reason why we need collaboration of friends to protect the territorial integrity of our country,” he said.

Strengthening the bilateral relations the speaker of Serbia Mr Orlic said, there is an urgent need for the two countries to work and support each other, particularly in the areas of technology, agriculture, culture, education and scholarships.

He was happy that Serbia opened its embassy in Accra again, saying that “this happened really fast and that is the first embassy which we opened after several decades in Africa and of course West Africa.

This confirms our dedication to work and strengthen our relations and to be together. We are improving things and we are there for you,” he said.

Source: Opemsuo.com/ Nana Kwaku Boffah.