Professor Kwadwo Appiagyei-Atua of the University of Ghana School of Law, has stated that despite Ghana’s democracy being a sham, the country does not exhibit the indicators to suggest it is at risk of a coup d’état.

According to him, the situation in the country has not deteriorated to the extent where military personnel will feel the need to overthrow the government.

He was, however, adamant that the style of democracy in the country was not fit for purpose.

“Certainly the democratic structure that we have here is indeed a sham, and I repeat that. And what we have is a form of legalized predation. In other words, we make the laws that will allow for stealing and plunder of resources and anytime these things happen we resort to the law.

“As long as we follow the law then we are covered. And so that is one weak issue with the kind of democracy that we have in the country. But I don’t think that conditions have deteriorated to the extent that a coup will solve our problem,” he said on JoyNews’ Newsfile Saturday.

Speaking on the indicators that suggest a country is at risk of a coup d’état, he noted that there are only four situations that can justify a coup occurring.

“First of all the means for change of government through peaceful means and through the ballot box is completely closed and so there is refusal to change government and there is no opportunity for the citizens to change government through peaceful means. That is one.

“Second, there are serious human rights violations that are being perpetrated by the government with the support of some security agencies which are aligned particularly to the government.

“Three, instability is brewing as a result of these two earlier factors I mentioned.

“And four, the international community whether it is the UN, AU or ECOWAS and so on are not doing their job well to be able to control the situation and ensure that there is change in the way democracy is being run in those countries,” he said.

He noted that in such incidences the military’s only role is to ensure a transfer of power and not to take over the reins of government.

According to him, the instant the military decides to take over the affairs of government, the purpose for which the coup was organized becomes undermined.

“The military are on the side of the people and therefore they see themselves as defenders of the constitution, they do that and they return to barracks. That is the only situation where I will support a coup d’état.

“And looking at the indicators for Ghana I don’t think we are there, we are not there at all,” he said.