African countries asked to deepen democratic culture

Accra, May 25, GNA - Alhaji Muhammad Mumuni, Minister of Foreign Affairs and Regional Integration, on Monday called on African countries to work towards deepening the democratic culture and promote good governance at all levels.

He said good governance was an imperative to be embraced by politicians, the executive, the legislature, the judiciary, public servants, and the private sector and also cuts across all national endeavours.

Alhaji Mumuni, who was speaking at the 46th African Union (AU) Flag-Raising ceremony in Accra, said it was only through collective efforts the continent could expect to complete its journey to success. The day was to highlight Africa's achievements and offer an opportunity to take stock of the urgent challenges facing the Continent. This year's celebration was under the theme; "Towards a United, Peaceful and Prosperous Africa" and was attended by the African Diplomatic Corps; Ministers of State; Members of Parliament; Members of Security Services; Traditional Rulers and selected school children. Alhaji Mumuni noted that the adoption of the African Peer Review Mechanism (APRM) constituted an exciting innovation to assist the Continent to build a common platform of values and norms to underpin the drive for good governance as an essential component for progress and development.

He said although the then Organisation of African Unity (OAU) faced challenges such as institutional, nation-building, domestic crisis and civil wars it succeeded in terminating colonialism in Africa and provided a collective platform and common voice for the people. "Additionally, the Abuja Treaty of 1991 establishing the African Economic Community represented the first major step in recent times to inject new life into the quest for continental integration and progress."

He therefore urged Ghanaians to reflect on what role they could play individually and collectively to help to make unity and progress a reality . "We owe it to our founding fathers, to ourselves, and to posterity, not to fail in this noble enterprise," he said. Dr Jean Ping, Chairperson of the African Union Commission, in a speech read for him by Tete Jean Pierre Gbikpi Benissan, Dean of African Diplomatic Corps, said the day was to reaffirm the Continent's collective determination to strengthen its commitment "towards a united, peaceful and prosperous Africa". He said the theme for this year wo uld enable Africans to take stock of the progress achieved against the goals set forth in this common vision.

He noted that more than 40 years on, the balance sheet was encouraging and augured well for the future, as evidenced by the irreversible process of continental integration that had galvanized the whole Africa since the vision of Sirte, Libya transformed OAU into AU. "The Continent can and should, therefore, look to its future with confidence and, above all, forge ahead to give concrete expression to the dream that has charted its collective course towards the advent of an Africa that is united and strong, and able to influence the course of international events, an Africa that is free from want and free from fear," he said. Dr Ping said to build a united, integrated, developed and peaceful Africa, the AU needed to take up the challenge - and not the least of them all - of striking a fair balance between the exigencies of political stability and rapid socio-economic development to which all the people of the Continent legitimately aspired. He said it was a common duty of Africans to pursue together and to succeed in the drive to collectively build the Continent and thereby achieve in a near future the development, prosperity and stability that all Africans hoped for.

"Let us make this dream that our fathers have for long nurtured become a reality and let us march resolutely towards a united, peaceful and prosperous Africa," he said.

Mr Ban Kim Moon, United Nations Secretary General, in a message called for effective, coordinated action by World Leaders, as well as full support for the Millennium Development Goals and the New Partnership for Africa's Development.

He said at the very time when Africa had achieved several years of sustained economic growth and improved stability, the global economic crisis was having a severe impact. "We must protect the Continent's poorest and most vulnerable people. The international community must not step back from its commitments," he said. Alhaji Mumuni and Jean Pierre inspected a guard of honour and later cut the tape to open a week-long photo exhibition at the Accra International Conference Centre. 25

Mills to visit Upper East, Upper West Regions

Accra, May 25, GNA - President John Evans Atta Mills will visit the Upper East and Upper West Regions from Wednesday, 27th May to Saturday 30th May 2009 where he is expected to make major policy pronouncements on the development of the area.

A statement signed by Mr Mahama Ayariga, Presidential Spokesperson, said during his stay in the two regions, the President will meet with various chiefs including the Bawku Naaba, opinion leaders, public servants and party activists. Apart from inspecting development projects in the regions the President will address durbars of the chiefs and peoples of the two regions in Bolgatanga, the Upper East regional capital, and Wa, Upper West regional capital. 25 May 09