Ghana's Political Stability; An Inspiration to Ivory Coast

Ivorian President Alhassan Ouatarra has said his country has been inspired by the political stability enjoyed by  Ghana and has influenced the plan for a new constitution to ensure peace in the country.

Addressing the people  of  ivory coast at the country's 56 independence anniversary, the president explain what has influenced the country's choice to elect vice president'

"we have the creation of a post of vice-president elected by direct universal suffrage at the same time as that of the president of the republic. Thus, in event of a power vacancy, it guarantees the continuity of the state on one hand and respect for the electoral calendar on the other." he said.

"The point of this reform is to guarantee peace and stability to which my eldest, President Henri Konan Bedie and myself are particularly attached."

"We were inspired by the examples of stability in Africa such as the neighbouring Ghana, Nigeria and South Africa but also elsewhere in the world."

"If we want to turn t a new page of our painful past, we must learn from it ; we must write new pages in our history, the pages of a new social contract that fits the realities of our country and new challenges that we face. To achieve this, we need to move forward on a new basis. That is why I decided to launch the project of a new constitution by referendum whose organization was authorized by the National Assembly, by the organic law of 22 July 2016"

The Western African country was regarded as a model of stability until an armed rebellion in 2002, split the nation in two. Since then, peace deals have alternated with renewed violence as the country has slowly edged its way towards a political resolution of the conflict

Alassane Ouattara was elected as president in 2010 but incumbent, Laurent Gbagbo, refused to concede victory to the internationally recognised winner, Alassane Ouattara, a move that pushed the country into another four months of war.

Mr Ouattara's forces overran the south of the country, finally capturing Mr Gbagbo and declaring him deposed.

the ivoryworld leading producer of cocoa, with a population of about 20.6 million

The country gained independence from France on 7 th August 1960 under the leadership of the then first president Félix Houphouet-Boigny.

By Abdul Malik