The Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Regional Integration has joined the rest of the continent to celebrate the 58th anniversary of the African Union (AU).
This year’s AU Day was celebrated under the AU adopted theme for the year 2021 “Arts, Culture and Heritage: Levers for building the Africa we want.”
In a statement released on Tuesday, May 25, 2021, the Ministry stated that Aspiration 5 of Agenda 2063 envisioned “an Africa with a strong cultural identity, common heritage, shared values and ethics.”
It said “globally, the cultural creative art industries play a key role in contributing to GDP economic growth and development and Ghana is no exception.”
According to the statement “today, Ghana is proud to play host to the secretariat of the AfCFTA, a key milestone in the attainment of our Agenda 2063.”
“These initiatives among other flagship programmes, are meant to foster democracy, good governance, rule of law, as well as deepen regional integration on the African continent.”
The ministry assured that “on this occasion, Ghanaians as a collective, are encouraged to embrace government’s efforts at delivering on the aspirations of Agenda 2063 and re-dedicate this memorable day to playing our role in the realization of our national and broad continental objectives through the instrumentality of the African Union.”
Below is the full statement:
Today, Tuesday 25th May, 2021, marks the 58th anniversary of the African Union, which was founded as the Organisation of African Unity, in 1963, in Addis Ababa, pursuant to the collective quest by our leaders at the time, to work together in its quest for the political emancipation of the African continent from the shackles of colonialism and imperialism. In championing this course, the OAU encountered huge challenges to statehood and nation building that found expression in various political conflicts on the continent.
Subsequently, the OAU was transformed in 2002 into the African Union with a shift in focus from political liberation to socio-economic emancipation of the African continent. In all these, sight has not been lost of the fact that ideals such as peace, security, democracy and good governance, rule of law and respect for human rights are the fundamental requirements for successfully pursuing the new vision for the development of the African continent.
Reflections towards achieving the Pan-African vision of “an integrated prosperous and peaceful Africa, driven by its own citizens and representing a dynamic force in the global arena”, culminated in the adoption of the continent’s strategic framework under the Agenda 2063 leading to the establishment of the Africa We want.
Today, Ghana is proud to play host to the Secretariat of the AFCFTA, a key milestone in the attainment of our Agenda 2063. These initiatives among other flagship programmes, are meant to foster democracy, good governance, rule of law, as well as deepen regional integration on the African continent.
The African Union Day is today celebrated under the AU adopted theme for the year 2021 “ARTS, CULTURE AND HERITAGE: LEVERS FOR BUILDING THE AFRICA WE WANT”. Indeed, Aspiration 5 of Agenda 2063 envisions ‘An Africa with a strong cultural identity, common heritage, shared values and ethics’. This calls for an African cultural renaissance which is pre-eminent and inculcates the spirit of Pan Africanism; tapping into Africa’s rich heritage and culture to ensure that the creative arts are major contributors to Africa’s growth and transformation; and restoring and preserving Africa’s cultural heritage, including its languages.
Globally, the cultural and creative art industries play a key role in contributing to GDP economic growth and development. And Ghana is no exception.
On this occasion, Ghanaians as a collective, are encouraged to embrace Government’s efforts at delivering on the aspirations of Agenda 2063 and re-dedicate this memorable day to playing our role in the realisation of our national and broad continental objectives through the instrumentality of the African Union.
As we commemorate this day, Government of Ghana will continue to play its constitutionally mandated duty under its treaty obligations to ensure that the continental integration Agenda inure to the benefit of all.
LONG LIVE AFRICA
LONG LIVE GHANA
