By Laudia Anyorkor Nunoo
Tema, Sept. 30, GNA – The AfriKan Continental Union Consult (ACUC) has called for stronger protection of African leadership and the continent’s economic interests as efforts intensify to deepen cooperation among Africa, Latin America and the Caribbean.
Mr Benjamin Anyagre Aziginaateeg, Leader of ACUC-Ghana, said Ghana’s emerging leadership role in promoting closer economic cooperation among Africa, Latin America and the Caribbean required serious attention to the protection of African leadership and sovereign interests.
He said the proposed cooperation involving the African Union (AU), the Community of Latin American and Caribbean States (CELAC) and the Caribbean Community (CARICOM) should be understood within a broader historical, diplomatic and economic context.
Mr Aziginaateeg said Ghana’s recent leadership on reparatory justice had contributed to closer engagement between African and Caribbean countries.
He referred to the United Nations General Assembly’s adoption of Resolution A/RES/80/250 on reparatory justice and Ghana’s subsequent convening of the Accra Next Steps Conference, which sought to advance discussions on reparatory justice.
He said the AU and CARICOM had also developed mechanisms for cooperation on reparatory justice, including research, legal strategy, diplomatic engagement, education and cultural programmes.
According to him, deeper economic and political cooperation among Africa, Latin America and the Caribbean could contribute to greater economic self-reliance and strengthen the bargaining position of participating countries.
Mr Aziginaateeg told the Ghana News Agency (GNA) that sustainable economic independence could be undermined by political fragmentation, internal rivalry and external pressures.
He, therefore, called for greater unity and practical cooperation among African countries and their partners in Latin America and the Caribbean to improve the material conditions of their peoples.
On education, he called for young Africans to be educated on colonialism, neocolonialism, Pan-Africanism, economic sovereignty, reparatory justice and African integration.
Mr Aziginaateeg urged Ghanaians to examine issues concerning the collective prosperity, sovereignty and international standing of Ghana and Africa beyond partisan political considerations.
He said Ghanaians could disagree politically while agreeing on the need for greater African economic cooperation, stronger bargaining power and a fairer position for Africa in the international system.
He cautioned that legitimate Pan-African aspirations should not be captured by partisan interests or weakened by internal divisions, adding that the Pan-African project should not become another unfinished chapter in African history.
GNA
Edited by Bertha Badu-Agyei/Lydia Kukua Asamoah
Reporter: Laudia Anyorkor Nunoo
Email: [email protected]