African leaders blamed for continent's woes

Kyebi, E/R, Oct. 20, GNA - The Okyenehene Osagyefuo Amoatia Ofori-Panin on Sunday said the predicament and woes of the African people was a result of the selfishness and greed of her leaders who failed to utilize the numerous rich resources to enhance the development of the people.

He said it was regrettable that the people were faced with poverty, corruption, deprivation and its attendant preventable diseases, the HIV/AIDS pandemic and slow pace of economic development.

The Okyenehene said this at a durbar of chiefs and people of the Akyem Abuakwa at Kebi in honour of the delegates and participants of the 26th Conference of the African Parliamentary Union (APU).

He said members of the APU should, therefore, strive towards formulating and devising appropriate legislatures that would not only improve the lot of the people, but to ensure that the Executive played its expected role of ensuring good governance.

Mr Peter Ala Adjetey, Speaker of Ghana's Parliament, said the APU was one of the few continental bodies of African origin that sought to promote the wishes and aspirations of its people after having survived the turbulent years after colonialism.

He said it was gratifying that there was a general agreement in most African countries that a process of transition to political pluralism, democracy and good government must be an integral part of the overall process of economic and social development.

The Speaker said the establishment of good governance, accompanied by accountability and transparency that were important for investor confidence and for national development was more likely to be achieved within a pluralistic political system.

Mr Adjetey said all the people of the Continent have the responsibility to protect and keep to the path of democratic governance. The Speaker said; "as representatives of the people of Africa, we have to rise above parochial interests and seek the welfare of our people. In no country will the process be without strain, stress and even political conflict as different interests are affected by change".

He emphasized that democratic consolidation could only be accomplished when such reversals, in the form of coups or the return to authoritarianism were no longer acceptable in a particular country.

Mr Adjetey said it was inspiring that in today's Africa, the tenets of democracy had been well integrated into the African traditional set-up which could not have been a reality without the active participation and involvement of the able and dynamic traditional leaders.

Elhadj Ibrahim Boubacar Keita, President of the APU, said the Union was anxious to preserve the culture of the people of the continent so as to give meaning to the struggle for realistic economic development and social justice.

He said there was, therefore the need for the culture and traditions of the people to be strengthened to give meaning to the goals of the African Union.

The delegates were entertained to various forms of cultural displays and the parade of the chiefs on palanquins.