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Mr. Mark Woyongo, Minister of Defense has indicated that recent claims that the current economic and socio-political situation in Ghana could trigger a coup d��tat in the country is just �wishful thinking�. According to him, the Ghana Armed Forces is more united than ever, and is ready to protect and defend the people as well the constitution of this country; hence will not advocate for a coup. �I would want to refer to it as wishful thinking because we�ve come a long way. The Ghana Armed Forces has come a long way; since 1992 we have had stability, significant growth in our economy, and so on; they would not want to go back to the days of coup d��tats,� he intimated. Mr Woyongo was responding to the Chairman of the UK/Ireland branch of the New Patriotic Party, Hayford Atta-Krufi�s assertion that a coup d��tat may happen if the Mahama government does not take steps to arrest the many labour unrests in the country. Speaking to Kwami Sefa-Kayi in an interview on Peace FM, Monday, the Minister of Defense said embarking on a coup is not �the best way out�. "A coup at this time will be like taking one step forward and 10 steps backwards. I can�t imagine Ghana having a coup at this time. We are touted all over the world as a beacon of democracy; our Armed Force is very professional and I don�t think they would want to take 10 steps backwards. The army is united and determined to protect our constituency; they have done so since 1992 and I don�t think they would want to renege on that responsibility�,� he said. He urged the media to promote and also protect the peace and stability in this country; �so that the freedom we have will be cherished by all Ghanaians�.