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Bernard Mensah, Flagbearer of the People’s National Convention (PNC), has criticised the Mahama administration’s reported position on the Western Sahara issue, describing it as a betrayal of Ghana’s Pan-African legacy.
In a post on his Facebook page, Mensah acknowledged that President John Mahama’s first year in office has seen renewed engagement with development partners and improved diplomatic confidence. However, he argued that these gains are being undermined by what he termed a morally indefensible foreign policy stance.
According to the PNC flagbearer, Ghana’s alignment with Morocco over Western Sahara departs sharply from the principles established by Osagyefo Dr Kwame Nkrumah, who positioned Ghana as a leading voice against colonialism and oppression across Africa.
Mensah stressed that the right of the Saharawi people to self-determination is recognised under international law and supported by the African Union, insisting that Ghana cannot remain silent or ambiguous on the matter without damaging its credibility on the continent.
“One cannot invoke Nkrumah’s legacy in speeches while abandoning it in practice,” he wrote, warning that diplomatic convenience should never override moral responsibility.
The PNC flagbearer further argued that moral clarity in foreign policy is a strategic necessity, not an idealistic luxury, adding that Ghana’s influence in Pan-African affairs depends on consistent and principled positions.
Mensah called on President Mahama to urgently review Ghana’s stance and realign the country’s foreign policy with its historical commitment to liberation, justice, and self-determination for oppressed peoples.
He concluded that leadership would ultimately be judged by courage rather than caution, cautioning that failure to act decisively would see Ghana’s proud Pan-African legacy gradually eroded.
Emmanuel Mensah
