Ghana pledges $3m support for Mali

President John Dramani Mahama has pledged $3million to support the African-led force for Mali (AFISMA) at a donor conference held on Tuesday.

The pledge in addition to the provision of an Engineer Regiment to be deployed to Mali is Ghana’s contribution to military operations against Islamist militants and to support humanitarian aid in the war-torn West African State.

This was revealed by Alhaji Mohammad Mumuni, outgoing Minister of Foreign Affairs and Regional Integration, when he briefed journalists at the Kotoka International Airport, on the President’s arrival from Addis Ababa- Ethiopia where he attended the just-ended 20th African Union (AU) Summit

He said peace and security on the Continent dominated discussions with Mali featuring prominently in deliberations on the occupation of the north of that country by extremists, terrorists and bandits and its implications for stability as well as humanitarian issues in the sub-region.

“ECOWAS, the AU and the international community is determined to oust these elements from that zone because neighbouring countries would be in danger of security problem and refugee burden from northern Mali,” he said.

The Assembly also focused on the launch and preparations for the celebration of the 50th anniversary of the Organisation of African Unity (OAU), now AU which falls on May 25.

Alhaji Mumuni noted that the theme for the celebration: “Pan-Africanism and African Renaissance” was very suitable because these two concepts were the spirit that ignited the struggle for political emancipation and decolonisation leading to independence.

“Africa renaissance is the spirit that propels Africa to create an atmosphere of peace as bedrock for forging sustainable development,” he observed.

He said the future would see the continent developing and at peace with itself and the world and contributing to the advancement of humanity.

Among other things, the summit also addressed the issue of the economic development of Africa in regard to regional integration.

Members agreed that integration was an “absolute imperative” for Africa to achieve economic independence and prosperity for its people.

The summit looked at how best to transform the AU into an African Union Authority and how to strengthen the body to work towards an eventual United States of Africa.

Source: GNA