Pan Africanist and Founding President of PanAfrica-Ghana (PAG), Ras Caleb Appiah-Levi, has concluded a high profile meeting between his Ghanaian-based NGO, and the African Union Commission (AUC) in Ethiopia. The meeting was centred on his organisation’s “Music For Development” Project.
“The project’s documents that were presented to the AUC Chair is expected to pave the way for a potential PAG’s collaboration with other pan-African leadership and membership that includes all the regional blocs” said Ras Caleb Appiah-Levi to TheAfricanDream.co, citing bodies representing fifty-six African countries including COMESA, SADC, ECCAS, ECOWAS, IGAD, EAC, CEMAC, SACU, UEMOA, CEN-SAD and AMU.
Mr. Appiah-Levi who arrived in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia on Friday, April 19 courtesy of Ethiopian Airlines, to commence the agenda of his itinerary from Tuesday, April 22 to Thursday, April 25, further disclosed to TheAfricanDream.co that “the trip was based on the recommendation of Ghana’s Ministry of Tourism, Arts and Culture (MoTAC), with sponsorship from Ethiopian Airlines Group and support from notable individuals.“
Mr. Appiah-Levi presented PAG’s Music For Development project and program of activities documents to Mrs. Saba Tesfaye, Executive Assistant to the Deputy Chief of Staff of the Cabinet of the Chairperson of the African Union Commission on behalf of the Chairman of the African Union Commission, His Excellency Mr. Moussa Faki Mahamat.
The AUC Chair at the time of filing this report was in Abuja, Nigeria for a high-level ‘African Counter-Terrorism Meeting’ and would be returning to Addis Ababa on Tuesday, April 30, 2024.
At the AUC, Mr. Appiah-Levi also discussed the project with Ms. Angela Martins, Director for Social Development, Culture and Sport from the Department of Health, Humanitarian Affairs and Social Development; Hon. Chief Fortune Zephania Charumbira, President of the Pan African Parliament, who arrived from South Africa to participate in a Budget meeting at the AUC; and Mr. Dawit Yifru, the President of the Ethiopian Musicians Association at his office in downtown Addis Ababa.
The PAG President visted hardcore Pan Africanist H.E. Mr. Willy Nyamitwe (aka KWAME), Ambassador and Permanent Representative of the Embassy of Burundi to Ethiopia, Chad, Djibouti, Israel, Eritrea and South Sudan; Permanent Mission of Burundi to the African Union Commission (AUC), to the United Nations Economic Commission for Africa (UNECA) and to the Organization of Southern Cooperation (OSC) at the Embassy of Burundi on April 24.
“We had a lengthy discussion about the project for Africa unity and development, and about the youth (African Experience) where the desire was expressed for a Patron of the project to work hand-in-glove together with His Excellency the President of Burundi“, disclosed the PAG President.
After that, he honoured a scheduled meeting with the Ambassador of Ghana to Ethiopia, H.E Mrs. Amma Adomaa Twum-Amoah, who is also Ghana’s Permanent Representative to the African Union (AU), ane the United Nations Economic Commission for Africa (UNECA) respectively, as well as the Secretariat for the first Accra Reparations Conference.
Ambassador Amma Twum-Amoah was accompanied in the meeting by Mr. Kwasi Asante, Minister/Deputy Head of Mission; Mrs. Martha Aidoo Ablorde, 2nd Secretary/Administration; and Mr. Emmanuel Hol-Oduro, Foreign Service Officer of the Embassy of Ghana in Ethiopia, respectively.
At the end of his trip on April 25, Mr. Appiah-Levi visited St. George Church and Museum in Addis Ababa. The tour guide, Deacon Sisay took him inside the Church where Ras Tafari Makonnen was crowned Haile Selassie the 1st, King of Kings, Lord of Lords, Conquering Lion of the Tribe of Judah on November 2, 1930.
He was accompanied on all visits by Project Consultant Mr. Hilaire Ntakuwundi (of Burundi, domiciled in Addis Ababa), who is the East Africa Representative and Coordinator for PanAfrica-Ghana (PAG).
In a conversation with TheAfricanDream.co earlier this month, Mr. Appiah-Levi disclosed that “ever since the birth of this organization on 24th of February 2004 it has always been our vision and mission to see the PanAfrican movement stand as a dynamic force for development, with music through the arts and entertainment industry being a major driving force.”
“These meetings are a plus for PAG and we feel it helped us tell and share our story with the right people who we know will propagate our agenda as we work towards realizing a united Africa with music as a strong glue that brings not just people, but governments together,” Mr.. Appiah-Levi said in conclusion as he departed to Ghana.