Story: Nana Sifa Twum, London

The Minister for Foreign Affairs, Alhaji Mohamed Mumuni, has stressed the need for Ghana to continue to take leadership role in the building and developing structures for The Commonwealth to achieve the goals for which the organisation was set up.

He said the building of stronger democratic institutions and processes across the Commonwealth were crucial in attaining the goals of the organisation.

Alhaji Mumuni was speaking to this reporter after chairing the 33rd Regular Meeting of the Commonwealth Ministerial Action Group (CMAG) in London.

The CMAG was established by Commonwealth Heads of Government in November 1995 to deal with serious or persistent violations of the Harare Declaration which lays down the Commonwealth's fundamental political values.

The composition, terms of reference and operations of the group are decided and reviewed every two years and Ministers generally serve two terms. CMAG was last reconstituted by Commonwealth Heads of Government at their meeting in Port of Spain, Trinidad and Tobago in November 2009.

The Group is convened by the Commonwealth Secretary-General and made up of Foreign Ministers from nine countries.

Ghana currently chairs the group which is made up of countries like Australia, Bangladesh, Jamaica, Maldives, Namibia, New Zealand, Vanuatu and Trinidad and Tobago

The primary purpose of CMAG’s meeting in London was to discuss the strengthening role of the Group, as it was mandated to do by Commonwealth Heads of Government at the 2009 meeting.

He observed that though The Commonwealth has done a lot in ensuring democracy across the organisation, some more needs to be done. The Foreign Minister noted that true democratic processes is not limited to, the regular holding of elections but more importantly, to ensuring fairness and transparency in governance.

The Ghanaian Foreign Minister who chaired the proceedings said the group aims to achieve this in member countries by providing training and technical assistance as well as sending teams of observers to countries’ elections following an invitation.

Alhaji Mumuni noted the need for CMAG to function more effectively to encourage member countries’ adherence to the fundamental values and principles of the Commonwealth Fiji remained a standing item on CMAG’s agenda and the Ministers considered recent developments in that country. However this was not the primary focus of the meeting and no new decisions were made by CMAG in relation to Fiji. The Group expressed deep concern about the situation in Fiji, and continues to hope that Fiji will take the necessary steps to restore its full participation in the Commonwealth.

“The Commonwealth remains willing to engage with Fiji in support of good faith efforts towards the restoration of democracy, in accordance with fundamental Commonwealth principles.” Alhaji Mumuni noted.

The meeting agreed on the need for member countries to make aims and objectives of the organisation reality on the ground. It also discussed the basis of its engagement on the protection and promotion of democracy to ensure that it is based on substance, not merely the adoption of democratic forms or a facade democracy.

It also called on the swift implementation of the practices and procedures which the oraganisation promotes to help build enduring democratic institutions, which provide full participation and representation for all citizens for member countries.