Accra, Aug. 14, GNA - Ghana's Ambassador to the Swiss Confederation, Mr. Kwabena Baah-Duodu, on August 4 officially opened the African Market and Cultural Festival in the Swiss Capital, Berne.

A statement issued in Accra on Tuesday said participants in the festival, which was organised by the Swiss African Forum, an African Advocacy group, included the Embassies of Ghana, Nigeria, C=F4te d'Ivoire, Kenya, Republic of South Africa and Senegal in Berne, commercial entities of African origin as well as private individuals. It said they displayed their national cultural artifacts and commercial products like textiles, food and some tourism promotion materials and also showcased the tourism potential of their respective countries.

There were cultural dances and other traditional performances at the function.

Mr. Baah-Duodu said the present crop of African leaders had realised the dire challenges facing the continent, hence their commitment to the African Union and NEPAD, which were aimed at promoting peace, security, democracy and better political, economic and corporate governance.

He therefore urged all Africans in the Diaspora to complement the efforts of their compatriots back home by contributing their quota towards the continent's development and eventual unification. Mr. Baah-Duodu expressed his pleasure that currently most Africans had come to realise that Africa needed to work together to regenerate the continent and that was why the leaders held a grand debate on Africa's integration during the recent African Union's Summit in Accra.