Randy Abbey criticizes West African leaders for surge in coup occurrences

• Aug 5, 2023

Ransford Annetey Abbey, a notable sports administrator and media personality known as Randy Abbey, has expressed strong criticism toward West African leaders for their failure to address the escalating coup incidents across the sub-region.

In a lamentation of the West African leaders’ lack of commitment, Randy Abbey pointed out their failure to convene and address the pressing issue of coup attempts that have recently plagued the region. Speaking on his show, Good Morning Ghana on Metro TV, on August 2, 2023, he reproached the leaders for not taking decisive actions to combat the problem, urging them to provide assistance to countries facing such distress rather than leaving them to navigate the crises alone.

Abbey articulated his concerns, stating, “We must consistently voice our concerns to those in power. ECOWAS leaders seem to be failing in their engagement, and they’re not honestly addressing the matters that require their attention, such as the Islamist concerns and more. This issue has grown to be a challenge across West Africa. The leaders haven’t united to devise a comprehensive strategy or establish a regional force to address these threats. As these challenges arise, the affected nations are left to tackle the predicaments alone.”

Furthermore, Randy Abbey, while acknowledging the region’s unfortunate history of coups, emphasized the need for proactive measures to be taken by sub-regional leaders to combat this recurring issue.

“While our history is marred by the impact of coups, and our resolve has been to embrace the democratic path, it’s evident that West African nations are exploiting this commitment and past experiences. We might not be fully meeting the expectations or acting in the best interests,” remarked Abbey, the host of Good Morning Ghana.

Given the backdrop of recent events, including the coup in Niger and subsequent directives from ECOWAS, it is clear that the sub-region is facing significant political instability. The recent dissolution of constitutional institutions and the suspension of governmental frameworks have prompted ECOWAS to urge a return to normal governance or face potential military intervention.

Abbey also highlighted the coups in Mali and Burkina Faso, which have been fueled by Jihadist unrest, reinforcing the urgency for collective action by West African leaders to counter these destabilizing forces.