Member of Parliament for Ningo-Prampram, Samuel Nartey George, has asserted that Africa's misfortune being ridden by the West can only be overturned by a set of new young African leaders.

According to Mr Nartey George, examples of the leaders he talks about began to surface during the recent military takeovers recorded in the West African sub-region.

He cited the new crop of leaders that have emerged from some Francophone countries, such as Burkina Faso, Mali and Guinea, as those he believes have what it takes to make Africa self-reliant.

In an interview on JoyNews on August 8, the MP said: "What is happening in Francophone Africa. People are waking up. We can no longer be taken for stooges.

"It is this awakening in the next generation of Africans that we are capable of managing our own Affairs and that we must unite. We must have a new cadar.

"Look across the landscape of Francophone Africa, with the exception of the Niger (leader), who is a bit elderly— I think about 61 or so. All the other guys - Burkinabe, Guinean, Malian, they are young soldiers," he said.

According to Mr Sam Nartey George, the set of individuals who must take the helm of affairs are those "who are afrocentric in their thinking and will say to the West and Europe, 'We will stay, hold our own, trade among ourselves, and we will only trade with you if you are willing to come and negotiate with us as equals.'"

Despite regarding the military juntas as daring and bold, the Ningo-Prampram MP noted that he stands against autocracy. He, however, clarified that he supports the kind of democracy that suits the African way of living and not those of the West.

"I am student of democracy. I believe democracy must strive. I believe Africa must develop its own version of democracy. The western democracy is not suitable for Africa.

"Look at Rwanda. Rwanda is celebrated by the West but what they practice in Rwanda is not the western democracy," he said.

Military takeover in Burkina Faso, Mali and Guinea

In Mali's case, President Ibrahim Boubacar Keïta was ousted from power by a military coalition in August. Subsequently, Mali's former Defense Minister, Bah Ndaw, assumed the presidency of the new transitional government, with Colonel Assimi Goita appointed as vice president. However, they were both removed from power a year later in May by Colonel Assimi Goita, a 42-year-old.

On September 5, 2021, Guinea experienced a coup d’état as the armed forces captured President Alpha Condé, who had extended his stay in power through a constitutional amendment. Colonel Mamady Doumbouya, 43-year-old, was sworn in as transitional leader in October.

In Burkina Faso, President Roch Kabore was ousted from power on January 24, 2022, following a coup led by Colonel Paul-Henri Damiba. However, eight months later, military rule was reestablished, led by Captain Ibrahim Traoré, 35.

Assimi Goita

In Burkina Faso, President Roch Kabore was ousted from power on January 24, 2022, following a coup led by Colonel Paul-Henri Damiba. However, eight months later, military rule was reestablished, led by Captain Ibrahim Traoré.

Ibrahim Traoré

Actions after takeover

Mali

Mali has embraced a new constitution that marks a departure from its previous status quo. The country has shed its official language, French, which had held that position since 1960.

The fresh constitution, endorsed with an impressive 96.91% of the vote during a referendum on June 18, brings about a change where French is no longer the designated official language.

Instead, French will transition into a working language, while recognition as official languages will be granted to 13 other native languages spoken within the nation.

Burkina Faso

In January of 2023, the junta government of Burkina Faso issued an order for several hundred French troops to depart the West African nation within a month.

This decision by Burkina Faso's leadership followed France's withdrawal from Mali in the prior five months, ending a nine-year engagement in combatting Islamic extremists alongside regional military forces.

A significant portion of these troops have since established new bases in Niger and Chad.

In April 2023, the military junta expelled the correspondents from two prominent French daily newspapers, namely Le Monde and Liberation.

This action served as a fresh indication of the decline in both press freedom and diplomatic relations with France in a country that has been deeply affected by jihadist violence.

The expulsions of Sophie Douce from Le Monde and Agnès Faivre from Liberation were executed, with both journalists arriving in Paris. These events followed the suspension of the France 24 television channel five days prior, and Radio France Internationale (RFI) being suspended four months earlier.