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Project
positive image of Africa-AU Chairman Kufuor
From Kwaku Osei Bonsu, GNA Special Correspondent, Cannes,
France
Cannes, Feb. 15, GNA - The 24th France-Africa Heads of State
and Government summit opened in Cannes, France on Thursday,
with a demand on the international media by African Union
(AU) Chairman, President John Agyekum Kufuor, to tell the
Continent's success story and project its positive image.
He said it was time the world media stopped their painting
of Africa as
a place of doom and gloom and acknowledged the positive
developments taking place on the Continent in terms of the
promotion of human rights, good governance and economic
management.
"Reports of corruption, crime, civil wars and even murder in
Africa should not be presented in the media as if they were
inherently African and exclusive to our Continent, since
they occur everywhere", he said.
He however, noted that objective reporting on these could
facilitate the rally of all humanity to deal with them.
German Chancellor Angela Merkel and former Japanese Prime
Minister Yoshiro Mori joined French President Jacque Chirac
and the African political leaders at the Summit, which is
being held under the theme; "Africa and the Global Balance."
It is designed to help deepen the economic development
partnership between France and the Region and the main
issues they would be discussing are "Raw Materials in
Africa, the Continent's position in the world, and Africa
and the Information society."
France has been at the forefront of a campaign to get the
developed nations to double their Overseas Development
Assistance (ODA) to the Continent and has decided to raise
the level of its ODA to 0.7 per cent of the country's gross
Domestic Product (GDP) by the year 2012, two-thirds of
which, would come to Africa.
Additionally, it has been actively campaigning for fair
trade for the Continent on the global market.
President Kufuor said the present generation of Africa
leaders were determined to make the 21st Century, Africa's
Century of hope, peace and prosperity.
He made reference to the democratic path of governance taken
by majority of the countries in the region
and the significant economic progress they were making with
an average growth of six per cent and declared that Africa
could no longer be described as a lost Continent.
The AU Chairman called on the international community to
continue to show solidarity with Africa by assisting in the
peaceful resolution of its remaining violent conflicts.
French President Chirac said Africa and the World stood at a
crossroads and the important question was Africa's place in
globalisation.
"There are two ways forward. Either the easy option of
short-termism and selfishness will win the day, and Africa
then once again be pillaged, left by the wayside of
prosperity and left alone to face its problems, something
that would represent enormous risk for the world.
“Or alternatively, we can face up to the challenge of
development and Africa will take its rightful place in
globalisation to become a focus of peace and prosperity."
He acknowledged the success some African countries were
making among emerging nations and said the image of an
impoverished Africa was no longer a true reflection of
reality.
President Chirac said his country would remain sincere with
its intention to rebuild its ties with Africa in a
relationship oriented towards the future and to broaden them
to encompass the Continent as a whole in order to take
account of glabal issues.
"At a time when Africa is becoming a fully-fledged actor in
globalisation, there can be no question of slackening our
efforts."
German Chancellor Merkel said there was the need for a new
long-term partnership co-operation with Africa which should
be built on good governance and structures for promoting
transparency.
She gave assurance of her country's support for the
continent saying, "We are prepared to help you to make your
dream come true."
Former Japanese Prime Minister Mori, called for improved
trade and investment to promote growth and fight poverty in
Africa.
GNA
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