Former President Rawlings honoured in Congo

A former President of Ghana, Jerry John Rawlings, was last Wednesday honoured by the United Cities and Local Government of Africa (UCLGA), at a ceremony hosted by President Dennis Sassou Nguesso in Brazzaville, Congo.

This was contained in a press release issued by the office of the former President, copied to the Ghana News Agency on Sunday.

It said former President Rawlings and former President of Nigeria, Olusegun Obasanjo, were presented with Honorary Diplomas by Congolese President, Mr Ngueso, with a citation recognising their outstanding services rendered to the cause of decentralisation, the unity of local governments in Africa and to the United Cities and Local Governments of Africa.

The statement said former President Rawlings dedicated the honour to all those who had committed themselves to develop effective and truly representative local government authority on the African continent.

According to the statement, former President Rawlings advised that regional integration, a unified continent and globalisation could only work and be successful if they were augmented by a well-grounded local government structure with local authorities having important role to play in ensuring that their actions reflected the true desires and commitment of the people.

It said former President Rawlings also spoke on conflict of both ethnic and political origin facing Africa, which he said could be confronted with a more decentralised system of governance that offers true opportunities for all citizens to contribute their quota towards national decision-making.

The statement said former President Rawlings returned to Accra on Thursday, but left for South Korea on the same day to deliver a keynote address at the World Summit of the Universal Peace Federation, which takes place from February 22 to 25 in Seoul.

He will address the Summit on Africa and Middle East issues.

Source: GNA