African, Asian legal officers urged to aim at growth and development

Accra (Greater Accra) 20 April 

Dr Obed Asamoah, Attorney-General and Minister of Justice, on Monday urged Asian-African legal officers not to limit themselves to the legal field. They should also deliberate on issues pertaining to the environment, migration, poverty alleviation and health, of which, the two continents are victims. Dr Asamoah said this at the opening of the 38th Session of the Asian-African Legal Consultative Committee (AALCC) in Accra.

Delegates from more than 40 AALCC countries as well as observers from more than 45 countries are attending the five-day meeting.

Dr Asamoah said ''countries from Asia and Africa share some common interests and aspirations. We all have fledging democracies and we are often marginalised in international affairs. Our countries, therefore, look forward to growth and development affecting our lives''.

Dr Asamoah said international law is dynamic and that AALCC has a unique role to play as a legal body representing the Third World by identifying their common interests and needs and provide a common platform in the development and codification of International Law. He urged participants to come out with definite conclusions on subjects such as refugees, migrant workers and environmental degradation, some of which have been on their agenda for quite sometime.

Mr Arun K. Banerjee, the Indian High Commissioner in Ghana read the message of the out-going President of AALCC, Dr P.S. Rao of India, who could not attend the meeting. Dr Rao wished the participants fruitful deliberations and expressed the hope that their attention would be focused on the development of the under-privileged in their societies.