Mahama counts on AU for Allan’s WTO job
President John Mahama has once again appealed to the African Union (AU) to offer their unflinching support for Allan Kyerematen’s candidature for the position of Director-General of the World Trade Organisation (WTO).
The President made the call when
he addressed the 20th Ordinary Session of the Assembly of Heads of
State and Government of the African Union in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, on
Sunday.
Government’s decision to support Mr Kyeremanten was first
announced by the late President John Evans Atta Mills during the
African Union (AU) summit in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, in January 2012. Mr
Kyerematen, who also enjoyed enormous backing of President Mahama when
he assumed office, was subsequently nominated for the WTO job by the AU
at a meeting in Addis Ababa in July 2012.
President Mahama took
the opportunity to express his “sincere gratitude and thanks” to his
colleagues for their support graciously given for the candidature of
Alan Kwadwo Kyerematen as Africa's candidate.
“I look forward to
your continued support as he begins to go through the processes of
selection associated with this strategic position. Fifty years after the
formation of the OAU/AU, Africa is more than ready to lead this crucial
world body through the much needed process of reform that will enhance
Africa's prospects as an equal partner in the world trade system.”
In
December last year, the President also took advantage of the 7th Summit
of the Heads of State and Governments of Africa, Caribbean and Pacific
(ACP) countries in Malabo, Equatorial Guinea, to ask all to join Ghana
support Mr Kyeremanten for the position.
Earlier in his address
at the AU Summit, President Mahama paid glowing tribute to the founding
fathers of the Union whose era he described as “the golden age of
African liberation”.
He remarked that the selflessness and
exemplary courage which inspired the faith and optimism that gave birth
to the OAU in May 1963 by the continent’s heroes cannot be questioned.
“We
who now wield the mantle of leadership on the continent are challenged
by this 50th Anniversary to rise to up to occasion. With Africa's vast
human and material resources as well as unprecedented access to
technology, there is no reason why we cannot succeed if only we could
muster the political will and seize the moment,” he told the gathering.
President
Mahama further remarked: “For, in spite of the highs and lows of the
last few decades, there is still much to be thankful as well as hopeful
for. We cannot remain entrapped in the grim episodes of our past. Nor
must we allow our future to be overshadowed by the dire situations that
persist in places such as Somalia, eastern DRC and lately Mali, among
others.
“If we can recapture as a people the same spirit of
selflessness and patriotism that brought us out of colonial domination, I
have no doubt that the dreams that inspired the heroic pioneers of
independence and development will surely materialize in a generation.”
source: Myjoyonline
