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Ghana endorses citizens’ participation in AU affairs
Accra, Sept. 6, Ghanadot/GNA –
Ghana is among 23 Member States of the African Union (AU)
that has formed what is referred to as the “First Permanent
General Assembly of the Economic, Social and Cultural
Council (ECOSOCC) to ensure partnership between governments
and all segments of the society aimed at achieving popular
participation in the affairs of the AU.
ECOSOCC would, among other objectives, set agenda on
developments on the African continent bearing in mind the
stages of development of various countries in relation to
the AU as a continental organization.
Dr. Niyi Alabi, Consultant to the Union made this known to
the GNA ahead of the launch of ECOSOCC on 9th September,
2008 at Dar-Es-Salaam, Tanzania.
Other participating countries are Algeria, Benin, Burkina
Faso, Burundi, Cameroon, Congo, Cote d’Ivoire, DR Congo,
Egypt, Ethiopia, Guinea, Kenya, Madagascar, Malawi, Mali,
Mauritius, Niger, Nigeria, South Africa, Sudan, Tanzania,
Tunisia, Uganda and Zambia.
He explained that ECOSOCC was formed in pursuant to a
decision taken at the 13th Ordinary Session of the Executive
Council of the Union, which was subsequently endorsed by the
Assembly of Heads of State and Government of the African
Union.
“The launching of ECOSOCC is a milestone in the development
of the institutional architecture of the African Union,” Dr.
Alabi said.
Civil Society participation in the affairs of the African
Union would be facilitated and people would be able to
understand policies and relate to them better.
The Assembly would be launched by President Jakaya Mrisho
Kikwete, Chairman of AU and President of Tanzania, Mr
Erastus Mwencha, Deputy Chairman of the AU Commission will
also grace the occasion.
GNA
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