General News of Monday, 20 January 2003

Source: gna

Delegates arrive for Global Coalition forum

Delegates for the two-day forum of the Global Coalition for Africa (GCA) started arriving in Accra on Monday.

The forum, which would be opened by President John Agyekum Kufuor on Tuesday, is under the theme "NEPAD and Security" would attract over 150 participants including the Heads of State of Botswana, Rwanda and Nigeria and the Prime Minister of Ethiopia.

Ms Eileen Marshal, Senior Adviser of GCA, speaking to newsmen said security was a pre-requisite for development.

She said the Forum would focus on strategies to ensure security on the continent.

It would also create a platform for the discussion of problems confronting Africa's development.

Among the participants would be former Secretary-General of the Organisation of Africa Unity (OAU), Dr Ahmed Salim Ahmed and other eminent African personalities.

The Forum would also examine blueprints of NEPAD including good governance, human rights and economic reforms.