Statement by Pres. Kufuor at UN Gen. Assembly High Level Plenary Meeting on NEPAD

New York, Monday, Sept. 16, 2002

Mr. President,
We have come here as a new generation of African leadership committed to the welfare of our people, and to Africa restored to its place of dignity among the comity of nations.

We have changed the nature of debate on Africa's development in our own countries, and in the international arena. No longer must our policies be simply responses to conditionalities imposed from outside, or to uncontrollable pressures generated internally. We are committed to good governance, to zero tolerance for corruption, to democratic freedoms and political tolerance, to inclusive policies and conflict prevention. Sound management of our economies and respect and support for the private sector are critical: -This is because the private sector works best for creating wealth and attracting more sustained foreign direct investments.

We seek to develop our continent in partnership with the rest of the world in a spirit of dialogue and cooperation. This opportunity to reflect on the New Partnership for Africa's Development (NEPAD) in the United Nations, the embodiment of global cooperation for peace and development is, therefore, timely.

We recall that the Group of Eight industrialized countries have already signalled, at their last summit, support for NEPAD. Prior to this, the international community, including the international financial institutions, had also expressed support for it.

We believe that this convergence of views on the importance of NEPAD to Africa's development augurs well for the people of Africa. Such an important shift of policy approach must, however, not remain mere statement of support. It must be evidenced in practical, timely and concrete terms. We, the African leaders, should commit ourselves to ensure that the Peer Review Mechanism works, and that no leader is allowed to hide under the umbrella of solidarity, or any other excuse when he or she fails to measure up to the principles underlying NEPAD. Our people deserve good leaders if they are to realize the dream of progress which inspired our struggle for independence.

Mr. President,

The need to ensure balance in the enforcement of the principles of NEPAD is perhaps, as important as ensuring good governance. We must take account of the fact that some African countries may have to go through a period of transition before they will be able to fully implement the principles of NEPAD. During this period of transition, care should be taken not to impose sanctions that might gravely destabilize entire communities, regions and neighbouring countries. To attain this balance, Africa and its partners need to collaborate better under the auspices of the United Nations.

It is also important that we focus at the global level, on a number of issues which are critical in creating the conditions for Africa's development. Making Africa's local entrepreneurs a vital bedrock for expanded investments and thriving markets on the continent, requires not just the policy and regulatory environment which we as African--governments must provide, but it also requires access to substantial volumes of long-term concessionary credit, and venture capital.

There is also the need to assure Africa, levels of support that will enable the continent provide social safety-nets to sustain the minimum acceptable standards of health, education and nutrition for all, irrespective of social standing.

Thirdly, there are many other bottlenecks in the implementation of NEPAD. These include the crippling debt burden, declining levels of official development assistance, limited market access and the lack of trade and investment insurance. These bottlenecks must be addressed urgently.

Mr. President,

The eyes of the people of Africa are on us today. For so long they have heard pledges and promises from their leaders, and from their development partners, and they have seen those promises broken.

We appeal to this Organization, and through it to the world, to seize this opportunity to work together with Africa to implement NEPAD, which is our framework for achieving the vision of the Millennium Declaration.

Thank you very much.

Reproduced by:
R. Y. Adu-Asare
www.AfricaNewscast.com
Reporting from UN Plaza
New York, NY