Dr Ibn Chambas Expected In Burkina Faso As President Blaise Campaore Defies Calls To Resign

Burkina Faso's President Blaise Compaore says he will stay in power for a year under a transitional government, following a day of violent protests demanding his resignation. 

Earlier, demonstrators angered by his bid to extend his 27-year rule torched parliament and government buildings. 

Mr Compaore said he would hand over power once the transitional government had completed its 12-month term. 

He also said he was lifting a state of siege he had declared earlier. 

In the previous announcement, Mr Compaore called for the military to implement emergency measures. 

This was followed by a press conference where Army Chief General, Honore Traore announced that a transitional body would be put in place in consultation with all parties. 

He added that a return to the constitutional order is expected in no more than 12 months. 

UN Chief Ban Ki-moon's Special Envoy for West Africa, Mohammed Ibn Chambas, is expected in Burkina Faso today to try to ease the crisis. 

Meanwhile, a Senior Research Fellow at the Legon Centre for International Affairs, Dr Ken Ahorsu, says President Blaise Campaore's quest to be a lifetime President is the major cause of the turmoil in Burkina Faso. 

Speaking to Radio Ghana, he said such a posture will not end well. 

Basing his argument on recent happenings in some other African countries, he said the situation is precarious, and requires tactful and diplomatic approaches to deal with it. 

For his part, an International Relations Expert, Irbard Ibrahim, said the situation is a test case for ECOWAS to solve a sub-regional problem. 

He said its effect will definitely spiral into Ghana, therefore President Mahama and his peers have a task to put things right diplomatically. 

On the economic implications of the situation on Ghana, a lecturer at the University of Education, Winneba, Dr Theo Richardson, said if the problems persist for a long period, its impact will be felt in Ghana. 

He said Ghana depends on Burkina Faso for vegetables and other imports therefore if not settled amicably the situation will trickle down and will not augur well for Ghana's economy which is facing some challenges now. 

GBC