Jerry Rawlings Winds Tour

FORMER Ghanaian President Jerry Rawlings has ended his weeklong tour of the country (Tanzania) as a United Nations Volunteers (UNV) Eminent Person for the International Year of Volunteers (IYV).

Rawlings who arrived here late last week has during a stay in Tanzania reminded African leaders of their obligation to fight corruption, the deadly HIV/AIDS saying just paying general service to the vices was not doing the continent any good.

On corruption, Rawlings said the vice was everywhere including in western countries, but their leaders there, were accountable. He told students at the University of Dar Es Salaam yesterday "we have no responsibility here (Africa), especially on corruption matters". During his other occasions, he told the youth groups to engage in helpful programs that aimed at improving their talents. "Most of the world's youth are being affected by HIV/AIDS partly because of their ignorance of the disease," he said.

Rawlings who concluded his visit with a news conference in Dar Es Salaam last evening, arrived here last week and met with his hosts including Minister for Labor, Youth Development and Sports, Professor Juma Kapuya, the country Representative for UNICEF, Dr. Bjorn Ljungqvist of UNDP Dr. Inyang Ebong-Harstrust. They met him at the Dar Es Salaam International Airport (DIA).

Shortly after arrival in Tanzania for promoting voluntarism in the fight against the pandemic, he urged African leaders to summon courage and get tested for HIV/AIDS and face up to the truth. He said not only leaders, but every one must fight against AIDS in his/her own capacities. "Since the scourge do not discriminate the rich from the poor, children from adults and the youth from elderly, all groups and individuals regardless of their social status must take part in the war against AIDS," he suggested.

Rawlings was in the country as an eminent person for the IYV under the UNV program. His busy schedule from Thursday to yesterday covered meetings with Presidents Benjamin Mkapa of the United Republic of Tanzania and Aman Abeid Karume of Zanzibar. He discussed HIV/AIDS-related issues with non-government organizations, UN Agency staff, volunteers and University of Dar Es Salaam students. His trip to Tanzania as an eminent person for the IYV follows recent similar visits in Kenya and Ethiopia.

Rawlings was President of Ghana for 19 years and is renown for spearheading and engaging in many volunteer activities for the development of his country. Selection as Eminent Person for the United Nations 2001 IYV is in recognition of his efforts on behalf of his community groups, independent voluntary organizations striving to improve social and economic conditions in Ghana.

He left office in January 2001 and is one of four eminent persons joining with the UNV to help raise the profile of millions of volunteers working for peace and development around the world. The others are former Executive Director of the UNFPA, Dr. Nafis Sadik, Anita Roddick, the founder of the Body Shop and Spain's crown Prince of Asturia.