Accra, June 28, GNA -Vice President Alhaji Aliu Mahama on Thursday said the magnitude and complexity of the challenges facing Africa should compel African states to strengthen continental unity and solidarity. He noted that the challenges facing Africa should be a source of inspiration to re-dynamise, invigorate and operationalise existing structures in the African Union (AU).

"It is for this reason that we should deploy all our energies and efforts to elaborate the necessary modalities and time frames for achieving the Union Government, to which all of us subscribe," he said. The Vice President said this when he opened the 11th Ordinary Session of the AU Executive Council, which forms part of the ongoing AU summit in Accra.

He noted that in spite of the political conflicts, poverty and disease plaguing the continent, there was a new renaissance and new dawn where Africa was becoming increasingly independent, self reliant, assertive and finding African solutions to African problems. "Though there are still pockets of violence and instability in Africa, we have made appreciable progress in restoring democratic practices in many parts of Africa. More countries now uphold the rule of law and respect for human rights and Africa is poised to enjoy the benefits of peace, stability and progress."

Alhaji Aliu therefore, urged the Executive Council not to allow themselves to be impeded by the unhappy situations in Africa but to capitalise on the new dawn and come up with concrete decisions that would assist the Heads of States to reach practical modalities for the achievement of the Union Government.

"The entire continent is anxiously awaiting the outcome of your deliberations - the people of the continent count on your collective wisdom to provide them with the means to build a better future for themselves and their children," he said.

Mr. Alpha Oumar Konare, outgoing Chairperson of the African Union Commission, asked delegates not to approach the issue of union government with parochial national and regional interests but to do so as Africans with a common goal and a common destiny. He noted that over the past 50 years many protocols and documents had been adopted at previous summits and meetings of the AU hierarchy, but the individual states had not ratified those documents, much more implement them.

"What is the use in adopting so much text and not showing commitment to them or implementing them," he asked.

Mr Konare said African states must move on from the text and initiate practical steps to strengthen existing institutions within the AU.

"African leaders must ask themselves which part of their executive powers they are willing to cede to the AU Parliament, Court of Justice, Defence Council and other institutions so that we can get the issue of the union government off the table into reality."

Mr. Konare noted that the past eight years presented the greatest opportunity for African leaders to concretise structures for the union government, saying that history and posterity would not forgive the current African leadership if they were not able reach the union government soon.

"History will not forgive us if we don't make any objective action to move forward," he said.

Nana Addo Danquah Akufo-Addo, Minister of Foreign Affairs, Regional Cooperation and NEPAD, said Africa deserved better than being a scar on the conscience of humanity.

He added that delegates were expected to demonstrate to the rest of the world that Africa was ready to escape the debilitating and dehumanising tentacles of mass poverty and to build a new Africa on the principles of democracy, rule of law and respect for human rights. Mr Abdoulae Janneh, Executive Secretary of the Economic Commission for Africa and Under Secretary-General of the United Nations, said Africans must act together to stake their claim in the global economy, adding that Africa's favourable competitiveness at the global market place largely depended the commitment of member states towards the union government. 28 June 07