Deputy Minister calls for fair repotage

DEPUTY MINISTER FOR FOREIGN AFFAIRS, HON. SHIRLEY AYORKOR BOTCHWEY CALLS FOR FAIR REPORTAGE ON POSITIVE DEVELOPMENTS IN AFRICA.

The Deputy Minister for Foreign Affairs, Honourable Shirley Ayorkor Botctwey has called on the international media to be fair in their reportage on Africa and report on the positive developments on the continent.

She made these remarks during interactions with the international media after the Eighth Africa Partnership Forum Meeting held in Berlin Germany from 22nd ? 23rd May 2007. The meeting was hosted by Germany, which has the current presidency of the G8 and opened by German Chancellor Angela Merkel. There were also statements by Ghana?s Foreign Minister, Nana Akuffo Addo, representing His Excellency President J. A. Kufuor as Chairman of the AU and Danish Prime Minister, Anders Rasmussen representing Denmark as Chairman of OECD countries. The Liberian president Mrs Ellen Johnson Sirleaf and the President of Botswana H. E. Festus Mogae also participated in the meeting.

The meeting was co-chaired by Ghana?s Deputy Foreign Minister, Hon. Shirley Ayorkor Botctwey, the German Minister for Economic Cooperation and Development, Heidemarie Wieczorek-zeul, the Chief Executive of the NEPAD Secretariat, Professor Mucavele and the Danish Minister for Economic Cooperation Ms. Ulla Tornaes.

On the eve of the APF, a German-World Bank forum was held to discuss various issues of concern to the African continent and to explore possible ways of getting the developed countries to engage positively with African countries.

The African Partnership Forum is a key forum for discussion and monitoring, at a senior political level, of policy issues, strategies and priorities in support of Africa?s development. Its membership comprises of African country, G8 member states and OECD countries as well as other development partners who all work together as equals in the forum to ensure synergies and coherence with other international fora.

This Eighth APF session discussed four main thematic areas namely: peace and security in Africa, climatic change; investment and gender.

Participants identified Peace and Security as essential to development, and emphasised the need for the provision of sufficient predictable funding for peacekeeping operations being undertaken by Africa itself. Wider issues, such as the illicit trade in small arms and light weapons, as well as trade in resources used to fund conflict were also discussed. They also expressed support for the current leadership posture of the continent as well as democratic institutions and ideals currently being practiced in Africa which has led to a reduction in the number of conflicts on the continent.

Climate change was also identified as a major threat to development and the achievement of the Millennium Development Goals in Africa. Participants acknowledged that even though Africa is the continent least responsible for climate change, it is particularly vulnerable to its effects .The Forum consequently underscored the required leadership role of the industrialised and the need for emerging economies to back up their efforts to reduce emissions. it also emphasised the need to enhance Africa?s capacity in the areas of technological research and innovation, early warning systems and to adapt to climate change.

There was also the general consensus that Africa was ready for increased investment as the world needed to revise its perceptions to align with the reality of the continent?s renewed dynamism, and improved economic performance. With average growth rates exceeding 5% over each of the last 3 years, and now outstripping average global growth rates, increased investment ? both domestic and foreign ? will enable Africa to boost its growth rates even further and accelerate progress towards poverty reduction.

The conference also called for equal rights and the elimination of all forms of discrimination against women, as Africa?s own growth and development agenda could only succeed if the continent is able to draw on all its resources and talents, and women are able to participate fully in all aspects of economic, social and political life. More also needs to be done to accelerate action to combat HIV/AIDS, which particularly affects women.

The next meeting of the Africa Partnership Forum will be held in Algiers, Algeria in October 2007. Ghana?s delegation has since returned home.

MINISTRY OF FOREIGN AFFAIRS ACCRA MAY 2007

For: Minister for Foreign Affairs, Regional Coperation and NEPAD

Tenewa Asamoah Ms (signed) Asst.Director, Information and Linguistics Bureau