Stakeholders discuss Agenda 2063

The Deputy Foreign Affairs Minister, Mr Kwesi Quartey, has urged Africans to view the Agenda 2063, a development agenda set by the African Union in 2013, as a new catalyst for the development of the continent.

The Agenda 2063 is a programme that seeks to unite Africans for development, and the objective of the programme is set to be attained in 50 years.

Speaking to the Daily Graphic at a stakeholders forum held in Accra to discuss the Agenda 2063, Mr Quartey said the agenda would strengthen African integration and unity.

The stakeholders of the project include the Institute of Democracy and Economic Governance, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, National Commission for Civic Education and civil society groups.

Development and consultation 

According to Mr Quartey, the Agenda 2063 should be seen as a unique opportunity for Africans to implement a programme designed to achieve peace and development on the continent.

He said since the reign of Dr Kwame Nkrumah as the President of Ghana, the country had consistently promoted the tenets of African unity and integration to facilitate socio-economic development in Africa.

The Deputy Foreign Affairs Minister said Ghana supported the Agenda 2063 as a vehicle that would consolidate the efforts of Africans to improve their lives “as the Agenda 2063 is home-grown”.

He also said the programme would create a new generation of pan-Africanists who would promote the ideals of foremost pan-Africanists such as Dr Kwame Nkrumah.

To ensure that the Agenda 2063 is fully owned and designed by Africans, Mr Quartey said stakeholder workshops would be held in all African countries to seek the contributions and inputs of African civil society groups and individuals in the development programme.

Success of programme 

The Editor of the Accra Daily Mail, Alhaji Haruna Atta, expressed optimism about the success of the programme, and said the Agenda 2063 would lay a foundation for the future generation.

Alhaji Atta said most African countries were now pursuing and instituting democratic governance structures and this, according to him, would propel growth and development on the continent.

He dispelled suggestions that the objectives of the agenda were not attainable and made reference to the early beginnings of the European Union (EU), which is now a powerful regional body.