Ghana to contribute less to the Africa Union budget

Ghana would henceforth contribute 821,300 dollars annually towards the Africa Union (AU) budget instead of the previous amount of 1.6 million dollars.

Minister for Foreign Affairs, Nana Akufo Addo, (MP) told Parliament that Ghana, which was previously assessed on the scale of 3.70 percent of the AU moved to a lower level of scale 1.91 percent.

The Minister was delivering a statement in the house on the Second Ordinary Session of the Assembly of the African Union held in Maputo, Mozambique, from July 2-12.

He said the ceiling had been raised from 7.5 per cent to 8.25 per cent for richer countries like South Africa, Egypt, Nigeria, Algeria and Libya, who are to shoulder more of the burden of the finances of the AU in accordance with their capacity to pay.

The Minister said Algeria was given a five-year grace period from payment of the new ceiling because of the heavy toll of the recent devastating earthquake on that country's economy.

Nana Akufo Addo said poor countries have had their scales reduced to enable them to pay instead of constantly facing sanctions for non-payment of dues. He said the new scale of assessment proposed and championed by Ghana sought to bring equity and ability to pay.

The Minister said the Session, which was organised under the theme: "Ensuring Implementation of NEPAD is Contributing to African Development", deliberated on the socio-economic situation as well as current political circumstances on the continent.

"With particular reference to the numerous conflict situations in the region and efforts being made to resolve them.", he said. He said discussions were held on how to bring into operation the protocols relating to the Peace and Security Council of the Union, Common Defence and Security Policy, the Pan-African Parliament and the Court of Justice.

Nana Akufo Addo said other issues like the African Charter on Human Rights relating to the rights and welfare of Women and Children in Africa were looked at.

"Issues relating to the search for answers to the HIV/AIDS and terrorism in Africa, Democracy and Good governance, the integration of the NEPAD programme into the structures of the AU, as well as the conservation of nature and natural resources also featured prominently in discussions." he said. He said President John Agyekum Kufuor presented in clear terms the West Africa tragic experiences.

"His appeal for the cooperation of the various warring factions, and for the international community's support for ECOWAS conflict resolution initiatives was warmly received."

Nana Akufo Addo said: "They endorsed explicitly the policies of ECOWAS under his leadership towards both La Cote d'Ivoire and Liberia and the Accra peace plan. "

The choice of Mozambique as the venue for the summit was in that respect apposite.

"Ravaged by two decades of civil war, wise political leadership under Joachin Chissano, has enabled Mozambique to chart a new peaceful path based on the values of national reconciliation, democratic accountability, respect for human rights and the rule of law.

"A path that is propelling her as one of the most dynamic economies in contemporary Africa, There in lies an eloquent lesson for all the conflict-ridden countries on our continent", he said.