Security consultant Professor Kwesi Anning has condemned the Burkina Faso president for carrying a gun during the inauguration of John Mahama.
The Burkina Faso military leader was seen armed with a gun at his waist while exchanging greetings with President John Mahama during his swearing-in ceremony at Black Star Square in Accra on January 7, 2024.
This has raised concerns about whether it is appropriate in terms of security protocols.
Speaking on Morning Starr with Naa Dedei Tettey, Professor Anning described the action as wrong.
“What happened in Accra yesterday, as seen on social media, was actually uncalled for. I said it was a breach of protocol, and a number of state officials and other dignitaries present might have wondered what they were seeing and whether they were seeing correctly,” he said.
He went on to explain the usual security procedures for such events. “It is not usual protocol for a head of state to bear a sidearm when other heads of state are present. Normally, when a head of state travels with their security team, they carry their guns, but those are left behind on the plane with the belief that the host country will provide maximum security.”
The security consultant has cautioned that such an incident should not happen again. “That should not happen again. We have to consider the circumstances under which this happened. The argument that this was part of his uniform does not hold at all. This was a major breach of protocol, particularly when heads of state were present, including our newly installed president, who was being greeted.”
