Ghana Wednesday expressed misgivings about the deteriorating political situation in Cote d'Ivoire and called on the leaders of the West African country to restore order to avoid further bloodshed.
"Ghana is concerned about the political situation which has moved from bad to worse. We are concerned as a government about developments in Cote d'Ivoire because it puts a wedge in the quest for the establishment of democracy in Cote d'Ivoire and in the sub-region as a whole," foreign Minister Victor Gbeho told journalists.
He said the current situation reverses all the gains made by the Economic Community of West African States and increased the chances of the loss of lives.
Gbeho said Ghanaians and Ivorian citizens are blood brothers and Ghana cannot sit unconcerned about events that take place there.
Government is watching the situation critically and is in contact with the Ghana Embassy in Abidjan for any eventuality.
Gbeho said reports that the military leader has fled the country would spare the country the loss of more lives.
He said "Ghana would not take Gen. Robert Guei in under any circumstances. He probably will head for a Francophone country."
Gbeho recalled that ECOWAS leaders had tried without success to let the Guei see reason, "but he (Guei) has always thought everyone else was wrong and he was right. We however did not break the dialogue. But events show that he never took what we were saying."
Guei seized power on Christmas eve promising to hold elections in October but as the time drew close, Alassane Ouattara the main opposition leader and other opposition candidates were disqualified.
The leader of the Ivorian Popular Front, Laurent Gbagbo, who was allowed to take part in the elections had been reported by the National Electoral Commission to have secured 51.35 percent as against the 40.40 percent by Guei. This was based on figures from 40 of the 241 constituencies.
Gbagbo is said to be working fast to form a government. It is not known whether it would include some of the leaders who were disqualified in the Sunday polls.
