The Deputy Minister for Foreign Affairs and Regional Integration, Charles Owiredu, says Ghana will play a lead role in efforts aimed at ensuring that people of African descent are completely liberated from racism, discrimination, xenophobia and all other related intolerance wherever they find themselves on the globe.
Delivering the keynote address at the African Union Continental Symposium on the Implementation of the International Decade for People of African Descent, at the African Regent Hotel in Accra, Mr Owiredu said: “Ghana has championed and would continue to provide leadership to actions that would ensure emancipation of Africa and people of African descent.”
“Africa’s liberation struggle will not be completed if there is no joint effort to work towards the elimination of racial discrimination, racism, and xenophobic attacks against people and migrants of African descent.
“Ghana’s efforts aimed at leading in the liberation of people with African descent is the reason why she was among the first African countries to sign the continental Free Trade Agreement,” the Deputy added.
Mr. Owiredu hence urged participants at the Symposium to ensure that lessons learned will “lead to the realization of the objectives of the International Decade for the People of African Descent which include; the promotion of respect, protection and fulfillment of all human rights and fundamental freedoms, the promotion of a greater knowledge and respect for the diverse heritage, culture and contribution of people of African descent to the development of societies and the adoption and strengthening of national, regional and international legal framework in accordance with the Durban Declaration and Pro Grammy of Action and the International Convention on the Elimination of all Forms of Racial Discrimination.”
The International Decade for People of African Descent
The International Decade for People of African Descent, 2015–2024, was proclaimed by the UN General Assembly in a Resolution (68/237) adopted on 23 December 2013. The theme of the International Decade is “People of African descent: recognition, justice and development”.
The seeds of the International Decade for People of African Descent were sewn in 2001 with the third World Conference against racism, which led to the adoption of the Durban Declaration and Programme of Action. The Durban Declaration, in addition to declaring that the people of Africa had been victimized by slavery and continue to suffer as a result, called for states to adopt specific steps to help combat racism and xenophobia and to protect its victims. During the International Year for People of African Descent, ten years later, the UN called for these efforts to intensify. Two years later, in December 2013, the UN resolved that 1 January 2015 would launch the International Decade for People of African Descent.
Source: Ghana/Starrfonline.com/103.5FM/Wilberforce Asare
