ACCRA, May 19 (Xinhua) -- Ghana's deputy Foreign Minister Mohammad Habibu Tijani on Friday called on African governments to garner the necessary political will to integrate the goals of the regional development agenda into national development plans and programs.
Speaking to the media in Accra ahead of the African Union (AU) Day celebration, Tijani also said Ghanaians must be conscious of this fact to avail themselves of the mindsets and interventions necessary to actualize the collective vision of the AU in their everyday lives.
Next Thursday, May 25, marks the 54th anniversary of the AU which was founded as the Organization of African Unity (OAU) in 1963 in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.
The OAU was formed in the wake of the collective quest by the leaders at the time to work together in seeking the political emancipation of the African continent from the shackles of colonialism and the ills of imperialism.
Subsequently, the AU was formed in July 2001 with a shift in focus from political to social emancipation of the continent.
"In all this, it has always been understood that the conditions of peace, security, stability, democracy and good governance are the fundamental requirements for successfully pursuing the new vision for the socioeconomic renewal of the African continent," Tijani said.
The Chief Director of the ministry, Albert Francis Yankey, said the AU had provided the foundation for progress though the body had to grapple with various challenges and mistakes along the way.
He said the continent was on the path to realizing full integration. Enditem
