According to a press release from Abdul Karim Koroma, Information Attache at the Sierra Leone embassy in Addis Ababa,the African Union (AU) on Monday celebrated the 46th anniversary of Africa Day at the headquarters of the AU in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.
The day is celebrated every year to reflect on the African journey since the historic formation of the OAU in 25 May. The OUA has evolved into the African Union but the day still remains an important celebration for Africa unity.
This year’s African Day celebration is themed: “Towards a United, Peaceful and Prosperous Africa.”
The AU Deputy Chairperson His Excellency Erastus Mwencha said: “It would be recalled that on the auspicious day, May 25th, 1963, the leaders of the then Independent African States, made history and gave significance impetus to the continent’s collective struggle for independence by establishing the Organization of African Unity in this historic and beautiful city of Addis Ababa, commonly referred to the “New Flower”.”
His Excellency Erastus Mwencha said these continuous but challenging efforts gave positive results, culminating in the establishment of the AU through its Constitutive Act adopted by the Assemble of Heads of State and Government in Lome, Togo in July 2000.
“This is one of the most relevant historic acts that African Leaders as a collective body have achieved to date. The struggle for unity, cooperation and integration of Africa has long before been with many African visionaries and Pan-Africanists, in the continent and outside,” he said. He further under scored that the transformation of the OUA into the AU was inspired by the need to accelerate integration as the main tool for enhancing peace and socio-economic development on the continent.
AU’s Commissioner for Political Affairs, His Excellency Julia Dolly Joiner said it should be noted that similar events are being held across the globe.
“Today, Africa is again taking the opportunity to ensure that the world continues to recognize the strides taken towards integration and development, for lasting peace and prosperity for her peoples,” she said.
Commissioner Joiner further stated that: “Such moments also provide us with an opportunity to reflecting on what has been done and what more we can do, as we continue on this African journey. It allows us to reflect as well on what that we would want to celebrate when we come together at the next African Day.”
His Excellency Ato Seyoum Mesfin, the Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Federal Republic of Ethiopia stated that when the OAU was formed it did not just appear from the blue, adding that it had a historic background consisting of the struggle of African people for liberation which began with the quest for political freedom.
“The past decades have shown that Africa indeed has the capacity to achieve greatness.
There is no reason why we cannot have a developmental miracle in Africa, that Africa can achieve uninterrupted growth has been demonstrated over the last few years,” he added.
Also in Addis, the Economic Report on Africa 2009 has called for African countries to pay special attention to the agriculture sector as a basis for long-term growth and development. Jointly published by the United Nations Economic Commission for Africa (ECA) and the African Union Commission (AUC), the Report was launched Thursday 28 May 2009 in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia; by Mr. Abdoulahi Mahamat, acting Director of Trade, Finance and Economic Development Division of ECA; Mr. Adam Elhiraika, chief of the macroeconomic analysis section of ECA; Mr. Maurice Tankou, chief of agricultural marketing section of ECA; and Mr. Abdallah Msa, head of the division of economic policies and research at the African Union Commission.
Speaking at the launching ceremony of the Economic Report on Africa, Mr. Elhiraika, said: “development does not happen by accident.” Agriculture provides strong linkages to other sectors of the economy and through proper planning, can be the engine for growth.
He gave the example of buying processed foods in supermarkets across Africa. All the products are imported, yet when you go to the villages, you will find African farmers selling the same products in raw form. “We need to connect them to the value chains”’ he said.
Mr. Abdallah on his part said this year’s report on the theme: “Developing African Agriculture through Regional Value Chains” is the third edition of the Economic report jointly produced by the ECA and the AUC. He explained that the Report will serve as an instrument to help the decision makers, elaborate good policies for the economic sectors. “The Report provides key economic substance aimed at reinforcing the economic management capacity at national and regional levels, as well as enhancing the economic integration of the continent”, he noted.
The report has two parts. Part one looks at recent developments in the global economy and its impacts on Africa. It says GDP growth in Africa is expected to decline from 5.1 percent in 2008 to 2% in 2009. Inflation in Africa, excluding Zimbabwe, was 10.7% in 2008, up from 6.4% in 2007, mainly due to high fuel and food prices.
ERA 2009 states that commodity prices have peaked and both demand and prices are now falling. In order to cut public spending and maintain fiscal stability, many countries will be forced to reduce spending on development projects and cut some services. This will threaten some recent development gains, such as rising primary school enrolment ratios, and progress towards attaining the MDGs.
It however finds a glimmer of hope with sustained economic reforms, exchange rate adjustment, easing of inflation and efforts to revive domestic demand, which could contribute to growth in Africa in 2009.
ERA 2009 notes that although Africa is heavily dependent on agriculture for providing employment, generating economic growth, foreign exchange earnings and tax revenue, the sector receives very little investments. It states that only 6% of arable land is irrigated, as opposed to 40% in Asia. Low fertiliser and tractor use, limited access to credit and insurance schemes, poor roads and marketing infrastructure, poorly funded agriculture related institutions of higher education, research and extension services.
To develop agricultural product value chains, Africa must enhance research and development, improve input markets, farm level production, product processing, storage, handling and transport, marketing and trade, financing, soil and water conservation, etc. This is a tall order for any one country to undertake, so ERA 2009 argues for the creation of regional value chains.
Background:
The Economic Report on Africa (ERA) is an annual publication of the African Union Commission and the United Nations Economic Commission for Africa (ECA). It provides a comprehensive analysis of developments in African economies over the preceding year, and makes predictions about the following year. The report also gives an overview of the global economy. Each year part two of ERA tackles a thematic area of importance to Africa. The theme of ERA 2009 is: “Developing African Agricultural through Regional Value Chains.” The report can be downloaded from www.uneca.org/era and www.africa-union.org. For a print version, please contact either the Information and Communication Service of ECA or the AU Communication Team.
In another development, Sierra Leone’s Ambassador to Ethiopia and Permanent Representative to the African Union and United Nations Economic Commission for Africa Tuesday expressed Sierra Leone’s interest to serve on the AU Ministerial Committee on Candidatures.
His Excellency Ambassador Andrew Gbebay Bangali made this request during the monthly meeting of the Group of Ambassadors and Heads of Diplomatic Missions of the Member States of ECOWAS, which was held at the residence of the Ivorian Ambassador in Bole Rwanda in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.
The Ministerial Committee on Candidatures is responsible to recommend African candidates to various international organizations on behalf of the African Union Commission and Sierra Leone now joins Nigeria, Burkina Faso and Ivory Coast as member of the Committee, thereby replacing Mali, one of the oldest members of the Committee.
Burkina Faso’s Ambassador to Ethiopia and Dean of West African Ambassadors in Ethiopia, Bruno Nongoma Zidouemba who chaired the occasion said he has earlier received a request from Ambassador Bangali expressing his country’s interest to serve on the Committee while Nigeria registered her country’s membership renewal.
Ambassador Zidouemba appealed to his colleague Ambassadors to use their wisdom when selecting countries that will be serving on the Committee.
He said consideration must be given to rotational and linguistic balance when selecting countries serving on the Committee, adding that Sierra Leone has a legitimate reason to be a member of the committee.
Ambassador Zidouemba said Mali, as President of the Committee, is on its way out, adding that other countries should be given the opportunity to serve in the Committee.
He said the decision will be communicated to the Malian Ambassador.
Similar sentiments were also expressed by the Guinean, Ivorian, Senegalese, Gambian Ambassadors and other diplomats.
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