STATEMENT BY HIS EXCELLENY MR. JOHN AGYEKUM KUFUOR,
PRESIDENT OF THE REPUBLIC OF GHANA AT THE 58TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF
THE UNITED NATIONS SEPTEMBER 2003
Mr. President,
Secretary-General, Excellencies, Ladies and Gentlemen, The past two years
have been years of near apocalyptic ordeal for the world and this
great Organization. In rapid succession, the world and this Organization
have been caught in what can only be described as crossfires
of terrorism, violence and wars. The uncertainties resulting from
these situations are yet to be dispelled. Much of the world is still
in the dark, groping for a glimpse of the vision of how the future
direction of international relations and this Organisation
will look like. The recent unwarranted
attacks against the United Nations Office and personnel in We in Mr. President, living in the West African sub-region, which has experienced
more than its fair share of conflicts, my countrymen are
familiar with the negative effects of conflicts, and the pain of insecurity.
They also know the importance of multilateral effort in conflict management.
Hence, for over 40 yearp, Mr. President, in my current capacity as Chairman of ECOWAS, I wish to
acknowledge the valuable support of the various Governments as well
as international organisations, which have
contributed to the efforts of the Community to achieve peace and stability
in the sub-region. With this help, the Community is succeeding in
resolving the conflicts which engulfed Mr. President, while fully appreciating the support of our friends, ECOWAS
must nevertheless appeal for some more resources from this Organization
and the international community, to enable it to consolidate the peace
and normalization process. It is necessary to stress that, in some
instances within the sub-region, post-conflict
peace building efforts have failed, because the many problems entailed
were not addressed in a systematic, sustained and holistic manner.
In the main, such problems include disarmament, demobilization and
reintegration of combatants into regular society. ECOWAS, therefore,
appeals for necessary assistance for effective management of them. Yet another serious continuing menace is the prevalent illicit trade in
small arms and light weapons in the sub-region. In this regard,
we note the commendable progress made by the international community
in addressing this menace through the United Nations Programme
of Action to Prevent, Combat and Eradicate Illicit Trade in Small
Arms and Light Weapons. The truth, however, is that more vigorous
and resourceful effort is needed to succeed. Mr. President, the Human Development Report for 2003 exposes the tragedy
that besets sub-Saharan Mr. President, this
is the century of the global village. How can subSaharan
The current leadership
of the continent has resolved to nurture Economically, the
African Union is calling for partnerships, both within and outside
the continent, to pool capital, technological and managerial ideas
and also markets, to fast promote and fast track the development of
Mr. President, it must be recognized that even as globalization is engulfing
all the corners of the globe, in such a manner that no part can opt
out of it, free trade and competition, which are the hallmarks of
the global market, can prove inimical and disastrous to most nations,
particularly the developing and least developed countries. This will
be so unless the process of globalization is properly and sensitively
managed. The reality of the
situation is that most of the least developed countries are in Africa,
especially sub-Saharan Mr. President, this being a session devoted to the consideration of the
biennial budget for 2004-2005, we hope that all Member States would
work together positively, to ensure that adequate funding is provided
for Mr. President, my
delegation is happy with the Secretary-General's renewed efforts to
reform aspects of this Organization's operations and welcome his challenge
to Member States for a bold effort to restructure this Organization.
In this regard, we assure him of our full support during this session
for the adoption and implementation of his renewed vision as well
as of his Report entitled, "Strengthening the United Nations:
an agenda for further change". We also wish to reiterate the imperative need for the Security Council
to be reformed, to ensure that it carries its charter obligations
more effectively in the full confidence of Member States. In this regard,
we subscribe wholly to the Non-Aligned Movement's position on the
question of increase in the membership of the Security Council. We
also endorse We sincerely hope that the Organization will be empowered to assume a
central role in the efforts currently being made to normalize the
situation in the Middle East, especially, Let me conclude, Mr. President, by thanking your predecessor, for having
ably guided the deliberations of the General Assembly through what
was by all accounts a particularly difficult year. We are also happy
to see in the Presidency our brother from the I thank you and
may God bless us all. |