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Momodou
Denmark
11826 Posts |
 Posted - 02 Jul 2007 : 22:06:31
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INTERVIEW WITH HALIFA SALLAH
ON THE AU SUMMIT AND PRESIDENT JAMMEH’S ABSENCE
FOROYAA: The International media reports tend to give the impression that the head of State of the Socialist Peoples Libyan Arab Jamahiriya, Colonel Muammar Qaddafi, is pioneering the founding of a United States of Africa while many other heads of state are skeptical about the idea. Can you throw light on what is happening in Ghana?
Halifa: The African Union has an assembly of heads of state which is the policy making organ of the Union. Since the first session of the African Union, the Heads of State have met eight times. The session in Ghana is the 9th Summit. The Ordinary Sessions are being held in July and January of each year.
The grand debate regarding the creation of a Union Government and the United States of Africa is not the brain child of any individual leader. It arose as the collective decision of the Assembly of Heads of State.
Foroyaa: How did the agenda come about?
Halifa: The AU Assembly of Heads of State established a committee of seven Heads of State and government in 2005 to formulate a proposal regarding the establishment of a Union Government.
During the AU Summit in Banjul in July 2006, the report of the committee was submitted for discussion under the caption “An African Union Government Towards the United States of Africa.”
The committee of seven concluded that the establishment of a union government is feasible and proposed the rudiments of the government that could be founded by 2015. the heads of state reviewed the study. During the 8th Ordinary Session of the assembly held in Addis Ababa in January 2007 the heads of state agreed that the 9th Ordinary Summit in Ghana will be exclusively devoted on the grand debate regarding the establishment of a union government. The summit also recommended consultations to be initiated at the level of the Pan-African Parliament and other institutions of the AU as well as civil society at large before the summit. Colonel Qaddafi therefore is simply echoing what has already been accepted as a subject of discussion by all African states.
Foroyaa: Is that why you were a member of a task force established by the Bureau of Pan-African Parliament?
Halifa: Precisely so. We were given the study to review and give our own input for debate by the Pan-African Parliament. The draft report of the task force had since been debated by the Pan-African parliament on the 15th and 16th of May 2007 at its 7th Session. The president of the parliament will give her input at the AU Summit being held in Ghana.
Foroyaa: There is yet to be any official announcement of the president’s departure for the summit. Will it not be strange if the president fails to attend such a major debate?
Halifa: The 9th Summit of the AU will be remembered by students of history. It is as important if not more important than the summit in 1963 which led to the founding of the AU. The grand debate is premised on the study of the Committee of Heads of State which is commonly referred to as the Banjul Study. It will be strange if the Gambian Head of State is absent.
Foroyaa: There is also little mention of what is happening in Ghana by the state media. In fact they are reporting views expressed that the Libyan leader is pioneering the drive for a Union Government against the wishes of many other Heads of State?
Halifa: Which head of state have they interviewed to draw such a conclusion?
The problem of the state media is not lack of reliable sources of information. Its problem is intolerance of diversity of sources of information. I am more than willing to clarify all issues regarding the grand debate.
Foroyaa: What suggestions have you given regarding the outcome of the grand debate?
Halifa: This is elaborated in my treatise on the founding of a Federation of African Republics which is being edited for publication. The following recommendations are made for the grand debate.
The Establishment of a Federation of African States in Phases
Phase one
The summit should achieve the following task in Ghana in 2007
1. Adoption of the name, nature and form of the Union. I propose that Africa continue what Lumumba and Nkrumah started by giving commitment to build a federation of African states which could be given the distinct name The Federation Of African Republics (FAR) to make it clear that Africa wishes to go beyond the point reached by the European Union to build a Federation of African States.
2. Adoption of a Solemn Declaration by all Heads of State to establish the Federation without hesitation or hindrance within a realistic time frame to be agreed at the Accra Summit.
3. Declaration of commitment by all states to ratify the protocol establishing the African Court of Justice so that it can be put in place in 2007.
4. The commissioning of an internal review exercise of mandates, functions and structures by all the organs or institutions of the AU as well as the elaboration of a strategic plan involving any upgrading in mandates, functions, structures, material and human resources to evolve into an institution of the federation. The Regional Economic Groupings should also be part of the review exercise. All institutions should be required to submit their reports to The AU Commission for presentation and discussion at the 2009 summit so that a task force can be commissioned by the summit, comprising experts on all the organs to draw up a realistic plan of action for forward movement towards the building of the Federation of African Republics.
5. Adoption of a resolution to establish the Central Bureau for Documentation and Statistics with immediate effect to serve as a depository of all the instruments, relevant statistics, policies programmes and projects of the AU and the respective States to facilitate continental planning and implementation of the objectives of the Union
Phase two
1. The 2009 Summit should be set aside to review the reports and recommendations of the various institutions and Organs of the AU and adopt their short term, medium term and long term proposals, including their requirements in Human and Material resources. This should be followed by the establishment of a Commission of Jurists to study all the recommendations and make proposals for the amendment of the Constitutive Act and all relevant protocols to bring them into conformity with the requirements of an evolving Federation of African Republics. This should be followed by the consolidation of the three arms of the state, that is, the Executive, the Legislature, the Judiciary and their respective branches or sectors and their operationalisation
Phase Three
The 2010 Summit should be devoted to the adoption of a revised Constitutive Act and supporting instruments which should have all the features of a Republican Constitution to gradually move the Union towards a Federation. Election of Pan African Parliamentarians should take place in 2010 on the basis of Universal suffrage so that they will owe no allegiance to National Parliaments and be fully devoted to the Legislative and other over sight functions of the Union. The consolidation of the African Court of Justice should be complimented with the establishment of the criminal jurisdiction of the African Court on Human and Peoples Rights and the appointment of a Prosecutor General to facilitate trials for war crimes, genocide and crimes against humanity under the Union.
Phase four
1. The 2011 Summit should be devoted to the review of progress in institution building and performance as well as the assessment of human and material resource needed to achieve set targets
2. This Summit should give mandate to the Commission of Jurists to engage in consultation on a continental basis to help prepare a draft Constitution for the Federation of African Republics for adoption on the 50 anniversary of the founding of the OAU at its head quarters in Addis Ababa in 2013.
3.The Summit should further establish a Commission of experts on Economic ,Social, Political and cultural matters to prepare a Comprehensive African Economic Recovery and Development Programme for the Federation of African States to be reviewed and adopted on the 50th Anniversary of the founding of the OAU in 1963
Phase five
1. The 2012 summit should be devoted to a review of progress made in the preparation of a draft Constitution and the Report on the Comprehensive African Economic Recovery and Development Programme for the Federation of African Republics. The Pan African Parliament in collaboration with ECOSOC should involve the Regional Economic groupings and their Parliamentary Fora as well as the National Parliaments, Civil Society and the people at large groupings in a continent-wide debate regarding the content of the draft Constitution and The Comprehensive African Economic Recovery and Development Programmes for the Continent.
2. The Session should also be devoted to a Review of the progress made by all institutions of the AU in fulfilling their respective mandates and the harmonisation of their activities to further the objectives of the Union.
Phase six
2013 will mark the Anniversary of the founding of the OAU. This Summit should be held in Addis Ababa and should be marked by the adoption of a Federal Constitution and the African Economic Recovery and Development programme for the Continent. This should mark the beginning of the founding of the Federation of African Republics.
Phase Seven
2014 should be a year of sensitisation. The Pan African Parliament and ECOSOC should be provided with enough material and human resources to sensitise the African peoples on the provisions of the draft Constitution and the content of the proposed Comprehensive African Economic Recovery and Development Programme. The sensitisation should culminate in the holding of an All African Peoples Conference comprising representatives of women, youth, human rights bodies, trade unions, media, disabled, political parties and other stake holders on the continent in preparation for a simultaneous referendum in all African States to approve or reject the Constitution of the Federation of African Republics.
The 2014 summit should focus on the reports of the civil society bodies and a declaration should follow adopting a day to hold the referendum in 2015 to decide the fate of the draft Constitution
Finally
Once the referendum leads to the approval of the Constitution, the 2015 Summit should proceed to establish a task force to prepare an implementation programme for the operation of the federation for approval by the 2016 Summit. The process of establishing the structures of a Federation of African Republics should take place according to the agreed plan.
Source: Foroyaa Newspaper Burning Issue
Issue No. 76/007, 2 – 3 July 2007
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A clear conscience fears no accusation - proverb from Sierra Leone |
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Karamba
United Kingdom
3820 Posts |
Posted - 02 Jul 2007 : 22:43:57
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Going by the importance emphasised by Halifa regarding how important the occasion is, any African president worth the name needed to be part of this history making process. Because Jammeh was not qualified to be Chairman of the Union, it is clear why he does not respect others leading him. Jammeh only brags about Regional Unity but he is not even serious about Gambian Unity. He rather stays to play Big in the Kanilai Futapaff festival than joining srious debates about the whole of Africa. This is a merry making president. Most importantly, Halifa's input is a pride for every Gambian. If Halifa is able to contribute this much, he has by far done better than the whole rubber stamp Gambian parliament. One would have expected a whole Gambian parliament to task itself with what Halifa produced. Outside all political favours for and opposition against Halifa, this is a great contribution. Well done Halifa for this good beef of a stuff. |
Karamba |
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Santanfara
3460 Posts |
Posted - 03 Jul 2007 : 19:51:37
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| mowdo karamba , it was the qualities of halifa that aprc play hard to eliminate him from having a voice . jammeh is all about himself and his self-glory .every thing revolve arround him .he is indeed futanpaf |
Surah- Ar-Rum 30-22
"And among His signs is the creation of heavens and the earth, and the difference of your languages and colours. verily, in that are indeed signs for men of sound knowledge." Qu'ran
www.suntoumana.blogspot.com |
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Karamba
United Kingdom
3820 Posts |
Posted - 03 Jul 2007 : 20:10:05
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Santanfara,
When we finally sweep this scrap of a thing from Gambian soil, we have the job of having a detox so that other poisonous elements will have no breeding space. Jammeh is speeding for for his disgraceful exit. Thanks to all of you good people. Keep the pressure. |
Karamba |
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