A local policy think-tank has commended the Turks for their efforts in preventing a coup on Friday and has called on the ongoing 27th Ordinary Session of African Union Assembly to declare solidarity with the citizens of Turkey and government.

In a press statement Sunday, the Strategic Thinkers Network (STRANEK) urged the "Turkish government vis-a-vis the leadership of the country to see this as an opportune time to clean up the security and strengthen it."

"A successful overthrow of democratically elected Mr. Erdogan, in the candid view of STRANEK, would have marked another thunderous shift in the Middle East, five years after the Arab uprising erupted and plunged Syria, Turkey’s southern neighbor into civil war," the statement said. 

Below is the statement

Strategic Thinkers Network (STRANEK) commends Turkey viz. the citizens and government for a tour de force with regard to preventing a coup as well as bastardising the plotters and allies of the coup.

Even though a faction of armed forces strafed the headquarters of Turkish intelligence and parliament in the capital, Ankara and others seized a major bridge in Istanbul, they did not triumph in the long run.

According to sources, 161 people were killed including many civilians, after a faction of the armed forces tried to seize power using tanks and attack helicopters.

Regardless, the coup proved futile.

Amid the avalanche of events that has occurred with respect to the attempted coup, we urge the Turkish government vis a vis the leadership of the country to see this as an opportune time to clean up the security and strengthen it.

We, however, applaud government for rounding up 2,839 people ranging from foot soldiers to senior officers including those who had formed the backbone of the rebellion as indeed, it indicates that the government of Turkey has the unpleasant situation under control.

A successful overthrow of democratically elected Mr. Erdogan, in the candid view of STRANEK, would have marked another thunderous shift in the Middle East, five years after the Arab uprising erupted and plunged Syria, Turkey’s southern neighbor into civil war.

This is not the wish of STRANEK, a policy and good governance thinks tank that focuses on economic and social issues as well.

We also urge African Union (AU) to use the ongoing 27th Ordinary Session of African Union Assembly, Heads of State and Government to declare solidarity with the citizens of Turkey and government.

We wish to draw Government of Ghana's attention to the happenings in Turkey as we prepare for the 2016 elections and make a clarion call that the security services especially the military stays neutral to hold the tenets of our democracy.

Reiteratively, Strategic Thinkers Network (STRANEK) shows solidarity with the people of Turkey and elected government as this marks as part of a dawn of action with respect to the condemnation of an attempted coup.

Parabolically,we must speak out against wrong no matter where in the world it is perpetuated. An attack on democracy in Turkey is an attack on civilisation and must not have a place in the 21st century.

SIGNED

NII TETTEY TETTEH

(EXECUTIVE MEMBER)