African leaders express cautious optimism about progress

Accra, July 3, GNA - African leaders attending the Accra Summit emerged out of about 13 hours of hectic deliberations on the proposed pan-African Government on Monday night to express cautious optimism about progress.

That there is total endorsement of the idea of continental Government is not in doubt, but the "devil" is in the form and time line.

President John Agyekum Kufuor, the African Union (AU) Chairman, said at a State Banquet held for the leaders that they were almost halfway through.

"It has been a resourceful and tough debate. I am confident that we will end up in a happy consensus," he added, drawing applause from the dignitaries present.

Veteran Zimbabwean President Robert Mugabe, re-echoed the positive assessment made by President Kufuor saying, "We started well and I do hope that we will end well to reciprocate the start."

He said the leaders were in Accra with a serious intent to address a grand question of consolidating the unity of Africa through the creation of a continental Government.

"Getting us politically to work as a continental Government is a grand plan and it is no co-incidence that this grand debate is taking place in a grand country, with a grand history and a grand founding father."

President Mugabe lauded the Government and people of Ghana for the right environment provided for the debate and the hospitality. "We are all overwhelmed by it. We are proud to be here."

The Heads of State of Algeria, Libya, Kenya, Uganda, Senegal, Gabon, Losotho and Nigeria presented their positions on the debate on Monday.

The debate enters its second and final day on Tuesday.