Ghana To Lead Africa's Democratisation - Veep
Vice-President John Dramani Mahama, has given the assurance that Ghana will continue to serve as a trailblazer in the development and democratisation of Africa.
'We as a country led in the fight for freedom and independence of most of the African countries and took the lead in coup d'etats and similarly spearheaded democracy and good governanace in the country,' Vice-President Mahama made the promise during bilateral discussions with Mr Martti Ahtisaari, a former Prime Minister of Finland, in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.
The Vice-President is in Ethiopia to attend the 14th Ordinary Session of the African Union Heads of State and Government Summit. The former Finland leader was also in the country to solicit the support of Ghana for a permanent seat for Finland at the United Nations Security council.
Vice-President Mahama said as a country that had gone through turbulent times, Ghana would take advantage of its democratic credentials and serve as a reference centre in good governance, rule of law and participatory governance in Africa.
He said Ghana had an enviable record of being the masterpiece of democracy.
Vice-President Mahama called on African countries engaged in wars and conflicts to emulate Ghana in order to extricate themselves from abject poverty, squalor, illiteracy, hunger and ignorance.
Mr Ahatisaari commended Ghana for its peacekeeping prowess within and outside the continent.
He said: 'It is as a result of your immense contribution to peacekeeping that we in Finland have recognised you as a major partner in our strides at gaining a permanent seat at the United Nations.'
Mr Ahatisaari commended Ghana for producing eminent personalities such as Dr Kwame Nkrumah, first President of Ghana, and Mr Kofi Annan, former UN Secretary General, who have contributed to the attainment of freedom and development for the continent.
The former Prime Minister, who is also chairman of Crisis Management Initiative in Finland, appealed to Vice-President Mahama to help conserve Ghana as the citadel of peace, development and prosperity, to serve as a show-case for war-torn African countries. — GNA