News

Sports

Business

Entertainment

GhanaWeb TV

Africa

Opinions

Country

NDC congratulates African Union

Mon, 24 May 2004 Source: GNA

Accra, May 24, GNA - The National Democratic Congress (NDC) on Monday congratulated African governments for their bold decision to establish the African Union (AU) two years ago.

In a statement to mark the second anniversary of Africa Day, which falls on Tuesday, the NDC commended all the Leaders and institutions that worked hard in the realisation of the AU.


It said people on the continent could look forward to a brighter future under the auspices of the Union.


"This was a dream of Ghana's First President, Osagyefo Dr Kwame Nkrumah towards which he worked tirelessly with other Pan-Africanists. That dream has been fulfilled today as we celebrate a second holiday to commemorate it," the statement signed by the Party's General Secretary, Dr Josiah Aryeh, said.

The NDC expressed the hope that the historical feat represented by the AU would bring greater benefits of freedom from hunger, poverty and deprivation as well as help entrench democracy and good governance among the people.


"It is our belief that the African Union will strive to obtain better trading and economic cooperation arrangements with Africa's development partners, so that access to international markets and to fairer competition will result in lifting the continent from its present state of dependency, to a status of equal opportunities for all," the statement said.


In this direction, the NDC said new development concepts such as the New Partnership for Africa's Development (NEPAD), Africa Growth and Opportunity Act (AGOA) and the newly introduced Millennium Challenge Account would be scrutinised by the Leadership of the AU to ensure that benefits went to develop the continent "in a manner determined by the people, but not as other people want it for us".

Source: GNA