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African leaders state positions on
Continental Government
Accra, July 2, GNA - African leaders attending the Ninth
Summit of the African Union (AU) in the Ghanaian capital,
Accra, on Monday got down to the serious business of
discussing the sort of Union Government they wanted for the
Continent.
While, there is total agreement on integration, a common
understanding of the form and time line remain the main
hurdles.
At a closed session, chaired by AU Chairman, President John
Agyekum Kufuor, eight leaders were billed to present their
positions during the morning session.
They included President Abdelaziz Bouteflika, the Algerian
President, President El-Hadj Omar Bongo Ondimba of Gabon,
Kenyan President Mwai Kibaki and Mr Pakalitha Bethuel
Mosisili, Prime Minister of the Kingdom of Losotho.
The other leaders were Libyan Leader Colonel Muammar
Gaddafi, who has been pushing for the immediate
establishment of a continental Government, common currency
and army, Nigerian President Umaru Musa Yar'dua, President
Abdoulaye Wade of Senegal, and Ugandan President Yoweri
Kaguta Museveni.
The closed session debate would continue to Tuesday, July 3.
Their submissions were preceded by a presentation of the
conclusions of the 10th Extraordinary Session of the
Executive Council by Ghana's Foreign Minister, Nana Addo
Dankwah Akufo-Addo.
President Kufuor had counselled his colleague leaders at the
official opening of the summit, which opened on Sunday not
to fail Africa and its future by taking unexamined
decisions.
"I am confident that at the end of our deliberations we
should be able to arrive at a common understanding of the
sort of continental Government, we want for ourselves and
how to develop a road map with time lines towards its
realisation."
"The task before us is enormous but exciting. We are at the
cross-roads, and at the same time at the threshold, of a new
era, with great opportunities but also many challenges and
responsibilities for Africa.
“We therefore, must not fail the people of Africa and the
future of our continent by unexamined decisions during this
Grand Debate."
GNA
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