Media urged to tone down on Ghana’s AU chairmanship

The Ghanaian media has been cautioned to cut back on the enthusiasm surrounding President John Agyekum Kufuor, and for that matter Ghana’s appointment to the Chairmanship of the Africa Union. According to Dr. Amos Anyimadu, a Fellow of the African Security Dialogue and Research, (ASDR), in as much as Ghana is proud of the position, “we are dangerously unprepared and it therefore makes it a slightly difficult position.”“Media reportage on the assumption of the AU chair by the president calls for worry,” Dr. Anyimadu said adding, “the media may be setting an overenthusiastic agenda on our chairmanship. We have been hitting above our weight and must be careful.” Dr. Anyimadu was speaking at a panel discussion in Accra on the Humanitarian crisis in Darfur and the implications for Ghana’s chairmanship of the AU. The ASDR organized the occasion to provide room for a discourse on the crisis in Darfur and Somalia, in recognition of the honour and challenges of Ghana’s assumption of the chairmanship of the African Union. Issues that were highlighted included the changing architecture of Global Governance with particular respect to what constitutes an Internal Affair of the state, the AU and ethical foreign policy and mobilizing policy, business and non-profit sectors in national support of Ghana’s chairmanship. He admits that substantively Ghana deserves it and that Africa and mankind should be happy she is in the chair. Dr. Anyimadu emphasized the need to create a national civic coalition on issues of diplomacy.According to the ASDR Fellow, political science symmetric suggests that extreme caution should be exercised on this matter, although Ghana is well ahead of Africa in ethical foreign policy. He recalled that Ghana was strong in supporting the Security Council resolution 1706, which spells out the states responsibility to protect their citizens. “The challenge we face is a multi-track diplomacy. Diplomacy is too important to be left to the state alone. It should be in the track of all and sundry.” Dr William Ahadzie a Lecturer at the Department of Sociology, University of Ghana, observed that Somalia is just emerging from war which is a difficulty for Africa and has similar conditions as Darfur. In his opinion, peacekeeping approach should be dependent on the history of the parties concerned. “There seem to be external and internal interest. Somalia’s transitional government has not got the military strength and remains a key challenge.” Dr. Ahadzie said though many countries have expressed interest they are hardly ever going to send troops to Somalia, citing Nigeria and Uganda as the only ones committed to sending troops. He believes that sending competent and adequate troops to Somalia is also a challenge to AU. “There is a discomfort in the relationship between AU and the Arab league. Things need to be managed to stabilize the situation in Somalia.” “The situation in Somalia currently requires a real political solution. Any uncontrolled military attempt will heighten it.” Participants at the panel presentation deduced that African nations might be shying away from sending troops to Somalia due to the experiences from Darfur. On why the United Nations is reluctant to support AU to send troop to Darfur, it was alleged that the UN’s reluctance was based on its fears of AU’s mismanagement in Darfur. It was alleged that funds were diverted for other things other than their intended purpose. As at now troops who returned in October are reportedly yet to be paid although new ones are being recruited. Major General Emmanuel Erskine, a former Force Commander of UNFIL who chaired the discussion said it is important to come out with ideas to support the important job of President Kufuor at this time, particularly when Darfur has been in the spotlight as a result of its humanitarian situation and spill over effects on neighbouring countries. He emphasised that Africa needs to get her troops organized, but said without the needed support we will be punishing them.