African leaders urged to harness energies of youth for nation building

The Minister of Foreign Affairs and Regional Integration Madam Ayorkor Botchway, says it is important that African leaders create the enabling environment for youth development. 

She said the youth of Africa have not been given fair treatment in terms of job opportunities and the required development.

This she said has exposed them to extremists who employ them to disturb the peace of the continent. 

She said this at the AU Flag Raising Ceremony to mark the 54th anniversary of the African Union in Accra. 

The African Union formed in 1999 is a rebrand of the Organization of African Unity on 25th May 1963 with the objectives to promote cooperation in all fields of human activity to raise the living standards of African people, to coordinate and harmonize its policies between the existing and future Regional Economic Communities for the gradual attainment of the objectives of the Union among others.

The 25th of May is therefore set aside to commemorate the Day and celebrate the founding Fathers' of the Union. 

Performing the Flag Raising ceremony at the fore court of the State House in Accra, the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Regional Integration, Madam Ayorko Botchway, said the last fifty four years of the AU have faced the challenges of conflict, instability, wide spread poverty, drought, mass migration among others. 

She said as the continent forges ahead in its integration, conscious efforts must be made to overcome its intolerable economic challenges.

The President of the African Union, Alpha Quendei, in a statement read by the Dean of the African Union Ghana, Madam Tendai Musaka, said the African Union has put in place the structures likely to implement the ambitions it expect among other things the commission and the council for peace and security to promote peace and security in the continent. 

The Minister of Information and Regional Integration said Ghana will continue to give its unbridled support to the AU to achieve its objectives.

GBC