Global Coalition meeting opens today

The 2002/2003 Policy Forum for the Global Coalition for Africa (GCA) opens at the La Palm Royal Hotel on Wednesday to examine the security dimensions of NEPAD.

The two-day meeting, which would be attended by current and former heads of state and government, would be on the theme "NEPAD and Security."

A statement from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs said the forum would be attended by some 150 delegates from Africa, Europe and the US. President Festus Mogae of Botswana, President Paul Kagame of Rwanda and Prime Minister Meles Zenawi of Ethiopia have already arrived in Accra for the meeting. The president of Nigeria Olusegun Obasanjo is also expected to attend the meeting.

President John Agyekum Kufuor would open the meeting.

The GCA is an innovative inter-governmental forum that brings together key political, business and civic actors from African and partner countries to deepen dialogue and build and consensus on Africa's priority development issues.

It would examine Africa's most critical social and economic development issues, seeks consensus on policies and programmes of action and monitors results.

The GCA is based on the premise that Africa can grow only if there is effort from within, but to do so it needs sustained and well-coordinated outside support and a stronger working partnership with donors from the North.

The GCA thus strives to keep Africa on the global agenda and to mobilise the necessary international support to match Africa's commitments to economic and political change.

It also aims at facilitating greater understanding of the development challenges that Africa faces, and at promoting agreement on the necessary actions to be taken by both African governments and their international partners.