AU Ministerial Committee Meets on Union Gov't

Africa Union Flag

By William Yaw Owusu

Tuesday October 30, 2007
The African Union (AU) Ministerial Committee tasked by member countries to enhance the prospect of achieving a Union Government for the continent, met in Accra over the weekend.

It is the second of such series of meetings since the Accra declaration in early July and it came as a direct consequence of a work plan and programme adopted at a consultative meeting in New York, United States in September.

Issues discussed included the identification of the contents of the Union Government concept and its relation with national governments and also looked out for the domains of competence and the impact of the establishment of the Union Government on the sovereignty of member countries.

They also discussed the relationship between the Union Government and the Regional Economic Commissions (REC’s), elaborated on the roadmap together with a timeframe for establishing the Union Government as well as the identification of additional sources of funding for activities of the AU.

The two-day meeting was attended by almost all Foreign Ministers of member countries or their deputies and their entourage. A similar meeting is expected in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia in the second week in January, 2007, where they will build on the progress made in Accra.

In his welcome address, Mr. Akwasi Osei-Adjei, Ghana’s Foreign Minister and Chairman of the AU Executive Council urged his counterparts to reflect on the preamble of the Accra declaration towards the achievement of a union government.

“A successful execution of the task before us will undoubtedly assist our principals, the AU Heads of State and Government, to chart a cause that will enhance the prospect and aspiration of achieving the United States of Africa in our lifetime”.

He said key issues such as the need to accelerate the economic growth and political integration, a common voice for major global issue and the creation of an African common market as well as involving the people in the integration process should be handled in the spirit of “frankness, collegiality and mutual trust”.

Later in an interview, Mr. Osei-Adjei told the Times that the level of development of each member country should not pose a challenge to the quest for a union government, adding “the world is now a global village and Africa cannot afford to miss out in the effort”.

Mr. Aziz Pahad, Deputy Foreign Minister of South Africa said “Clearly, a union government is the way forward for Africa. We have to look at each country’s capabilities and explore the common values as we forge ahead”.

“We cannot build a Union Government on a weak foundation. The objective is not debatable. Those who are better of economically should play a leading role in this effort”.

Ambassador John Shinkaiye, Chief of Staff of at the AU Secretariat in Addis Ababa said “We are working out the modalities to include the harmonization of our activities so that we can accelerate the union government agenda”.