Ghana’s President Nana Akufo-Addo said he hoped Mali, Burkina Faso and Niger would rejoin the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) regional bloc, in an interview with FRANCE 24.

The decision of the military juntas in the three countries to withdraw from ECOWAS was a setback, and the security situation has worsened since the departure of French troops from the Sahel region last year, Akufo-Addo admitted.

Months after the military juntas in Mali, Burkina Faso and Niger announced the formation of a Confederation of Sahel States following their withdrawal from ECOWAS, Ghana’s President Nana Akufo-Addo said the decision was a setback for security in the region.

Akufo-Addo said it was obvious that the military rulers in the three countries had no intention of relinquishing power and ushering a return to democratic order.

The withdrawal of French troops from the Sahel last year had exacerbated the security situation in the Sahel, he said.

In Ghana, he hailed the agreement reached a few days ago with nearly all its creditors to restructure the country’s debt as a major achievement after years of economic crisis.

He waved away criticism from the opposition that the electoral process was flawed and that his government was cracking down on protesters.