Africans must be masters of
their destiny- Veep Aliu
Cape Coast (Central
Region) 01 October 2002-The Parliamentary Select Committee for Defence and
Interior at the weekend called on the Executive to cooperate with parliament to
avoid creating tension and mistrust between the two arms of the government.
The Parliamentarians
who were contributing to discussion on coalition building to enhance the
oversight responsibilities of Parliamentarians deplored operational tactics
adopted by some ministers to frustrate Members of Parliament in seeking for
legitimate information.
The MPs, therefore,
advised Ministers of State to respect the oversight responsibilities of Parliamentarians
stressing, "we are the ones who approve your budgets and the show of power
would not be in the nations interest."
The two-day workshop
was aimed at equipping members with the requisite skills to enable them
discharge their responsibilities in handling issues of defence and internal
security, effectively, and facilitate the consolidation of the nation's
democratic process.
It was organised by
the Foundation for Security and Development in Africa (FOSDA), a
Non-Governmental Organisation (NGO) based in Accra and sponsored by the
Senegal-based Open Society Initiative of West Africa (OSIWA).
The Parliamentarians
urged the security authorities to develop mutual working relationship with
committees of Parliament "as that is the board room for lobbying and
inputting into national policies."
Speaking on "The
New Partnership for Africa's Development (NEPAD) and Regional Integration:
Security Implications," the South African High Commissioner, Dr M. M.
Phologane urged African Parliamentarians to take advantage of the policy and
assess the benefits that NEPAD would offer.
He said the issues of
good governance, constitutional rule, development of democratic institutions,
building of economic infrastructure and the fight against corruption are the
cardinal principles of NEDAP.
Mr Napoleon Abdulai,
United Nations Expert on Small Arms called for the blending of traditional and
political governance in Africa to enhance democratic development for national
cohesion.
He also called for a
reform of the chieftaincy institution to conform to democratic system of
government by drawing formal succession to forestall chieftaincy disputes and
urged African scholars to research into mode of succession to stools and skins.
GRi…/
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Accra (Greater Accra)
01 October 2002 - Vice President Aliu Mahama on Monday called on Africans to
exploit global realities to bring about a positive change in their lives
knowing and accepting that they are masters of their own destiny.
"We must no
longer perceive ourselves as victims of colonialism, imperialism, or the forces
and consequences of geopolitics, the harshness of world financial markets and
the excesses of financial institutions" he said.
Mr Jake Obestebi
Lamptey, Minister of Information, and Presidential Affairs read Vice President
Mahama’s speech, at the opening a three-day conference of the Association of
European Parliamentarians for Africa (AWEPA) in Accra.
More than 110
legislators from Africa and Europe and officials of United Nations (UN)
specialized agencies are attending. It is under the theme 'the role of
Parliament in relation to NEPAD, sustainable development and HIV/AIDS.
He said previous
efforts to develop Africa using international aid and loans have failed hence
the importance of NEPAD. "It provides leadership guided by the experiences
and realities of the African continent. This partnership must be combined with
real progress building, sustainable development and deepening the roots of good
governance."
He said; "We as
African leaders have shown that we consider political and economic reforms as
essential, if lasting development is to be achieved. We have shown that we
consider political and economic reforms as essential, if lasting development is
to be achieved."
"We have
reaffirmed the importance of government with the consent and authority of the
governed, including the role of Parliament. We are speaking out again and
again, against corruption and bad governance and placing emphasis on ensuring
accountability and transparency," he added
Vice President Mahama
said opportunities for growth and development abound in Africa saying," we
can all benefit from each other's successes. He said HIV/AIDS in the
sub-Saharan Africa is reversing the impact of the progress that has been
achieved during the past few decades.
"The HIV/AIDS
pandemic is one of the greatest threats to Africa's development, being not just
a threat to the people's health, but also, to their national security and very
survival."
He said the control of
the pandemic would be "one of the most powerful tools for the achievement
of the other goals of NEPAD.'' The Vice President asked members of Parliament
to join government in the implementation of NEPAD
"When you
understand NEPAD, the people understand NEPAD. When you accept NEPAD, the
people accept NEPAD...when the people understand, accept and move NEPAD
forward, how then can we not succeed."
Mr Peter Ala Adjetey,
Speaker of Parliament, who presided, said NEPAD offers the last hope for the
African in the realisation of economic prosperity. He said most programmes
failed in the past because it was not "home grown" adding 'now we
have what is a home grown programme, we can not afford to fail this time
because there would no excuse for the failure."
GRi…/
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