AU Focus on Climate Change

Francis Ameyibor (Ghana News Agency)—The African Union Chairperson, Tanzanian President Jakaya Kikwete, has called for concerted efforts to address challenges of climate change, water, sanitation and the oil and food crisis, impacting negatively on the lives of Africans.

"Unless Africa pays particular attention to these existing and emerging challenges, it will be very difficult. If not impossible, to bring about sustainable socio-economic development to Africans," she noted.

President Kikwete made the call in a message read for him at a flag raising ceremony to commemorate the 45th AU Day in Accra. The Day was on the theme: "Meeting the Millennium Development Goals (MDGS) on Water and Sanitation".

Mr. Tete Jean-Pierre Gbikpi-Benissan, Dean of the African Diplomatic Corps, read the message at the ceremony, marked on Friday because the officially date, May 25, falls on Sunday.

President Kikwete said the potential of Africa’s growth and development was linked with its environment as a determinant factor of health and wealth.

He stated that the Day therefore provided an opportunity to reflect collectively and individually on the impact of previous actions and map up strategies for years ahead to reverse the trend.

The AU Chairperson said 2007 was challenging to the continent in view of unprecedented floods in 17 Africa countries, accounting for destruction of crops, livestock, property and other infrastructure.

Climate change, President Kikwete said, also compounded the challenges of drought and access to potable water, thus resulting in food insecurity, malnutrition, poor health and poverty.

He noted that the theme was therefore chosen as a demonstration of the importance African leaders attached to accelerate water security for social, economic and environmental development, in line with the MDGs.

The AU Chairperson said, although the continent had made positive strides in water supply sector, especially access to urban areas, it was behind in meeting target of providing access to 50 per cent of its population by 2015.

He indicated that only 30 per cent of Africa’s population had access to improved sanitation and urged member states to double their efforts to achieve the MDGs target on sanitation as well.

President Kikwete, hinted that issues on climate change, water, sanitation, HIV/AIDS, malaria and the global oil crisis would be high on the agenda at the forthcoming AU Summit slated for June 24 to July 1st.

He therefore called for the support of all regional economic communities, civil society organizations, and development partners, particularly the UN agencies to address all such challenges.

The ceremony was herald with a colourful parade mounted by the First Battalion Infantry Brigade Corps, Michelle Camp, and the Armed Forces Central Band, consisting of 61 men and three officers.

The AU, formerly known as the Organisation of African Unity (OAU) was established in 1953 with the objective of promoting unity and solidarity as well as sovereignty among member states.

It commemorates the Day annually to provide Africans the opportunity to reaffirm their commitment to ideals of the AU.

A traditional ruler, Togbega Gabusu VI, Paramount Chief of Gbi Traditional Area has also called on African leaders to use the 11th AU Summit to move away from rhetoric and expedite action on regional integration towards the rapid socio-economic development of the continent.

Togbega Gabusu also the President of the Volta Regional House of Chiefs, said when the "big boys" are uniting their political and economic forces, building bridges on the sea and romancing the moon, "Africa is still battling with leadership, famine, disease and how to commission a pit latrine".

He said attempts at integration would never crystallize if platforms for dialogue on Africa’s forward match were reduced to discussion on whether the process should be immediate, gradual or later.

Togbega Gabusu, asked African leaders to demonstrate that they had the people of the continent at heart warning that posterity would not forgive them if they failed to actualize the dreams of the forebears of Africa.

"How then do we resolve or mitigate the escalating global oil prices and looming food crisis," he asked.

Togbega attributed Africa’s problems to the lack of political will, hypocrisy, corruption, greed and "attempt to call spade a big spoon," and suggested that there should be a time frame the continent’s integration.

He appealed to the media to educate adequately educate Ghanaians on the role of chieftaincy in contemporary times.

Meanhile a United Nations meeting in Yaoundé, Cameroon, from May 28-30 is billed to consider how strengthening local governance capacities in Africa can improve service delivery and help achieve the Millennium Development Goals on the continent.

The theme of the Conference is: “From Policy to Implementation: Challenges and Strategies for Effective Implementation of Decentralized Governance in Africa”, according to a statement issued in Accra on Friday by the United Nations.

The meeting would be attended by Ministers and senior officials responsible for local government and decentralization, as well as heads of local authorities.

It said some 150 participants from 35 African countries would share experiences on the role of leadership in Africa in implementing decentralization policies. They will discuss development and poverty reduction at local level, and the need to build capacity for decentralized governance.

The need for “good governance at all levels” is required “to ensure that resources are mobilized and used effectively. Participation, transparency and accountability are all crucial components of this process. Countries themselves must be in the driver’s seat when governance reforms are involved,” said UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon.

Participants will also include representatives of development agencies and partners involved in decentralization and local governance as well as representatives of European municipalities participating in the Euro-Africa Partnership for Decentralized Governance.

The statement said the conference would feature a special debate on the results of a seminar for elected women local government leaders on poverty reduction.

The seminar on “Strengthening Women’s Leadership in Local Government for Effective Decentralized Governance and Poverty Reduction in Africa: Roles, Challenges and Strategies” would be held also in Yaoundé on 26-27 May.

The statement noted that decentralization policies and devolution of power and authority to local administrations were increasingly being implemented in Africa as part of efforts supported by aid agencies to achieve good governance.

Yet, “it is not sufficient to put in place policies, laws, and strategies emphasizing decentralization.” said Guido Bertucci, Director of the Division for Public Administration and Development Management at the United Nations.

“These policies and strategies must be effectively implemented to make a difference in the well-being of local communities, especially in terms of service delivery and development”.

The Conference is organized by the UN Department of Economic and Social Affairs in cooperation with the Ministry of Territorial Administration and Decentralization of the Government of Cameroon, the UN Capital Development Fund, the UN Development Programme, and the Municipal Development Partnership.
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