Debate on future direction of Africa set for July 1

Accra, June 27, GNA - The grand debate on the future direction of the continental union, the African Union (AU), is set for Sunday, July 1.

Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo, Ghana's Foreign Minister, said the hope was that out of this debate by the Heads of State and Government would come a clear benchmark and timeframe for the process of political integration to take place.

The arrangement they would put together would facilitate the emergence of a new Africa, he said.

Addressing a press conference on the programme lined up for the Summit in Accra on Wednesday, he said Africa could not afford to be indifferent to integration.

The rest of the world was coming together and that if Africa chose the path of indifference there should be no doubt that this would be at continent's own cost.

Nana Akufo-Addo said an innovation of the Accra Summit was a presidential engagement with the media where a group of Africa Heads including, AU Chairman President John Agyekum Kufuor, would interact with some selected journalists on conflicts and governance issues. Leaders from South Africa, Nigeria, Algeria, Tanzania, Senegal and Liberia would take part in the media encounter.

Besides, for the first time ever, there would be a special session for African First Ladies at Parliament House.

Ghana's First Lady, Mrs Theresa Kufuor, would preside over the meeting that would deliberate on how much their involvement could help to reduce the incidence of the HIV-AIDS infection in the continent. The Foreign Minister announced that two countries, Algeria and South Africa, would be peer reviewed on the sidelines of the Summit. There would also be a meeting of the Ministerial Committee on Candidature to decide on African candidates for international appointments.

The Executive Council, the body charged with the responsibility of preparing the materials for the Heads of State and Government, would meet from Thursday to Friday.

Already the AU Civil Society Forum and the Private Sector Business Forum to provide inputs for the Summit have been held. Nana Akufo-Addo said adequate preparations had been made for a successful summit.

"I am confident Ghana is ready to host this big conference."