Would Ghana levy air travel, hotel accommodation to pay for peace-keeping in Africa?

The President, John Dramani Mahama has hinted that African countries would raise a 12,000 strong rapid response military force to deal with the issue of insurgency on the continent and the money for the force might be raised from levying air travel and hotel accommodation.

Speaking to the BBC in an interview, President Mahama said he doesn’t think any African country is safe with insurgents lurking around.

He told the BBC that even though the timely intervention of French troops and AFISMA in Mali brought the insurgency in that country under control, he thinks the issue is not over yet as there could be ‘asymmetric attacks like it happened in Niger.’

According to the President the UN’s intervention in Mali is an opportunity to scale up, but he believes funding will be a problem.

Asked about how many soldiers are needed for the rapid response force in Africa, he indicated that the AU has estimated 12,000, he however, admitted that he has no idea how many soldiers Ghana would be contributing to the force.

Asked about how much Ghana would contribute in funding, looking at the fact that most Ghanaian workers are demanding improved salaries, he said “peace and security is important for development,” and Ghana must make a commitment.

He told the interviewer that Former Nigerian President, Olusegun Obasanjo had suggested that all African countries should to put levies on air travel and hotel accommodation to raise funds for the force.

He however, did not say, if Ghana would implement such levies.

A military coup in March 2012 in Mali made it possible for militants to  seize control of the north of the country, effectively seceding from the rest of Mali and establishing a harsh form of Islamic law.  Intervention by French troops, backed by the UN halted the southward move of the militants.

By Emmanuel K. Dogbevi