August 08 - The National Chairman of the ruling New Patriotic Party Mr. Peter Mac Manu has been elected chairman of the Democratic Union of Africa (DUA), an association of centre-right political parties in Africa.
Mr. Mac Manu was elected at the just ended annual conference of DUA held in Accra and would serve for a two-year term. He succeeds Mr. Alfonso Dhlakama of Mozambique, the immediate past chairman of DUA.
The two-day conference, organized under the auspices of the Westminster Foundation for Democracy, was aimed at building the institutional capacity of the various center-right political parties as well as promoting good governance, good democracy and sound market economies based on vision and perseverance.
The conference critically considered the issue of democratic development in Africa and examined specific themes including Africa and globalization, defeating corruption and embedding good governance and promoting regional cooperation.
The conference critically examined factors militating against the continent’s developmental fortunes and the causes of conflicts and instability within the region.
The conference examined the effect of corruption on the continent and noted with deep concern that corruption undermines good governance and also retards the social, economic and democratic development of Africa.
Participants at the DUA conference resolved that democratic institutions such as political parties, parliament, judiciary, media and civil society organizations should be strengthened and supported to fight the menace.
The conference called on law enforcement agencies to respect the rule of law and treat all citizens equally before the law without fear or favour.
It resolved also that donors should be partners in the fight against corruption by directly monitoring and evaluating aid in collaboration with local democratic institutions rather than relying on laid down formalities and vague conditions.
On the subjects of conflict resolution and promotion of regional cooperation, the conference examined the causes of conflicts and poor regional cooperation, which include inequitable distribution of national resources, poor service delivery and negative use of ethnicity in politics.
The DUA meeting, with the aim of finding a solution to these problems, resolved among others that African governments and state institutions must create equal opportunities for all of the continent’s people without any form of discrimination.
With regard to the issues of globalization, trade and aid the conference noted that Africa is faced with a number of challenges including inadequate and poor transportation and communication infrastructure.
Representatives of DUA member parties at the conference therefore resolved that their parties, whether in power or out of power, will actively promote and support the building of trans-African highways and railways to facilitate land transportation and trade among African nations.
The conference also resolved to work for the development and implementation of the required policies and programs aimed at eliminating all artificial barriers to economic, political, social and cultural exchanges among African countries.
Mr. Mac Manu, speaking on his responsibilities as the new DUA Chairman, said he would be championing the voice of DUA by “building on the foundation laid by my predecessor”.
He said centre-right policies have been vindicated worldwide and noted that its opposites of socialism, communism and their likes are all dying out.
Mr. Mac Manu noted that the NPP government, upon its assumption of office since 2001, has used centre-right policies in solving a lot of the myriad problems that it inherited from its predecessors. He cited the enhancement of private sector’s participation in the economy as a good example.
Mr. Mac Manu noted that the days of dictatorship and military adventurism are gone and almost all African countries are going into multi-party democracy. He expressed the hope that by the time his term expires as chairman of DUA “more centre-right parties will assume power in Africa”.
Mr. Mac Manu was elected at the just ended annual conference of DUA held in Accra and would serve for a two-year term. He succeeds Mr. Alfonso Dhlakama of Mozambique, the immediate past chairman of DUA.
The two-day conference, organized under the auspices of the Westminster Foundation for Democracy, was aimed at building the institutional capacity of the various center-right political parties as well as promoting good governance, good democracy and sound market economies based on vision and perseverance.
The conference critically considered the issue of democratic development in Africa and examined specific themes including Africa and globalization, defeating corruption and embedding good governance and promoting regional cooperation.
The conference critically examined factors militating against the continent’s developmental fortunes and the causes of conflicts and instability within the region.
The conference examined the effect of corruption on the continent and noted with deep concern that corruption undermines good governance and also retards the social, economic and democratic development of Africa.
Participants at the DUA conference resolved that democratic institutions such as political parties, parliament, judiciary, media and civil society organizations should be strengthened and supported to fight the menace.
The conference called on law enforcement agencies to respect the rule of law and treat all citizens equally before the law without fear or favour.
It resolved also that donors should be partners in the fight against corruption by directly monitoring and evaluating aid in collaboration with local democratic institutions rather than relying on laid down formalities and vague conditions.
On the subjects of conflict resolution and promotion of regional cooperation, the conference examined the causes of conflicts and poor regional cooperation, which include inequitable distribution of national resources, poor service delivery and negative use of ethnicity in politics.
The DUA meeting, with the aim of finding a solution to these problems, resolved among others that African governments and state institutions must create equal opportunities for all of the continent’s people without any form of discrimination.
With regard to the issues of globalization, trade and aid the conference noted that Africa is faced with a number of challenges including inadequate and poor transportation and communication infrastructure.
Representatives of DUA member parties at the conference therefore resolved that their parties, whether in power or out of power, will actively promote and support the building of trans-African highways and railways to facilitate land transportation and trade among African nations.
The conference also resolved to work for the development and implementation of the required policies and programs aimed at eliminating all artificial barriers to economic, political, social and cultural exchanges among African countries.
Mr. Mac Manu, speaking on his responsibilities as the new DUA Chairman, said he would be championing the voice of DUA by “building on the foundation laid by my predecessor”.
He said centre-right policies have been vindicated worldwide and noted that its opposites of socialism, communism and their likes are all dying out.
Mr. Mac Manu noted that the NPP government, upon its assumption of office since 2001, has used centre-right policies in solving a lot of the myriad problems that it inherited from its predecessors. He cited the enhancement of private sector’s participation in the economy as a good example.
Mr. Mac Manu noted that the days of dictatorship and military adventurism are gone and almost all African countries are going into multi-party democracy. He expressed the hope that by the time his term expires as chairman of DUA “more centre-right parties will assume power in Africa”.
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