Speech by H.E. MR JOHN AGYEKUM KUFUOR of Ghana

ON BEHALF OF AFRICA
25 November 2007

Thank you, chief and President, Yoweri Kaguta Museveni, our host president; Secretary General, the Rt Hon. Don Mackinnon; colleague Heads of Governments; your excellences, foreign ministers; distinguished ladies and gentlemen. It is a privilege and honour for me to present on behalf of Africa at the end of the Kampala CHOGM, which all of us accept as one of the most successful CHOGMS ever held.

In the past one week, we have all been touched buy the warmth of Uganda’s welcome and most generous hospitality. It is this welcoming environment, and the facilities placed at our disposal that have enabled us to reach some major decisions which emphasise the strength of our association and also provide it with a future that will be meaningful to our peoples.

On behalf of Africa therefore, I wish to say a big thank you to you, our host and brother African leader, Yoweri Kaguta Museveni, President of the Republic of Uganda. We will leave Uganda with fond memories that will last for many years to come. The Commonwealth Secretariat, under the leadership of the outgoing Secretary General Don McKinnon, our good friend, has once again lived up to high standards of efficiency and commitment that we have come to expect. I want therefore to thank Don for the eight years in which he dedicated himself and the wealth of his experience to the service of the Commonwealth. His visionary leadership and dedication have moved the association closer to realising those high ideals which define our membership. We wish him God’s fate and good luck in his future endeavours. We expect that in whatever capacity he will find himself, he will be a faithful and true friend of the Commonwealth

We welcome the election of Ambassador Kamalesh Sharma, the new Secretary General of the Commonwealth. He is bringing to his new duties, his wide experience in international affairs and will no doubt provide visionary leadership that will deepen and expand the horizons of the Commonwealth Association. In carrying out his duties, he can count on the support of Africa

This is no time to go over all the decisions that we have arrived at during this session. The theme which our hosts selected for this meeting, transforming Commonwealth societies to achieve political, economic and human development, was most appropriate and was in keeping with the challenges which face the majority of our members. It is therefore the expectation of Africa that our association will strengthen its capacity to work together to transform our various societies, and that the more developed members will do all that is possible to assist the weaker and vulnerable members, especially the small island states, to ensure their survival, stability and prosperity

Climate change has been identified as perhaps the biggest challenge that faces all of us, rich and poor alike. Increasingly, its impact is becoming difficult to ignore as it manifests itself in our daily lives across the world. Discussions on climate change have therefore assumed a new sense of urgency. It is our hope and expectation that we will continue to work together with greater commitment towards ensuring that the forthcoming Bali meeting will adopt the necessary strategies that will save our global environment from further destruction.

Let me conclude by welcoming the interactions that we have had with our civil societies and with the youth. There cannot be a Commonwealth without our people and their welfare must therefore take priority of place in our current and future endeavours.
Once again, on behalf of Africa, I wish to thank my brother and host, as well as the government and the people of Uganda for their wonderful hospitality. We have been impressed with the great strides Uganda has made in their political, economic and social transformation and we wish the government and people, greater success in the future.

Uganda has indeed made Africa proud- (Applause). I wish all our colleagues, a safe journey back to their respective capitals and we look forward to reassembling in the city of Port of Spain in Trinidad and Tobago in the year 2009. Thank you

CHOGM she is here!!!

The CHOGM rant is about to come to an end and I haven’t said a thing about it! Buffff!! C’mon me….gotta say something or I wont be a true Ugandan!

Wait a minute…who is this CHOGM that everyone has been talking about and waiting for anxiously? She must be some really important person because for the first time in ages, the streets of Kampala are shimmering…okay that is an over statement. Anyhow for real, the streets look so darn good with those Black, Yellow, Red flags draped allover the place. Much as I hate the whole fuss and the incoveniences of blocked roads, I feel something stir in me when I drive by the flags on the clean streets. Maybe I am patriotic afterall.

Anyhow, I don’t really have anything to say about CHOGM, but I am not one to be left out of certain bandwagons so at least I have said something even though I am really saying nothing. Guess I fall among the group that do not really know or care what the heck CHOGM is about or even more hillariously who the heck she is. All I know is that she must be a really important person (or thing) coz she jets in today and I have two days of public holiday. Another chance to cut class. Yiiiihaaaaa!!!

Blogging steam!!

A one Tumwijuke just reminded me of my blogging steam having run out. It does run out sometimes doesn’t it? To be honest, for a young blogger like yours truly, I feel like one needs alot of discipline to do this. Its like keeping a journal and writing in it every night before you go to bed. What happens when you are too sleepy…you use toothpicks to keep your eyelids open??? Ha ha ha. Tum, you were spot-on. My steam did run out abit, but thanks for the awakening. Guess it didn’t help that the best University East and Central of Africa has not had electricity and internet for what…a month!! How embarassing. (Still proud to be a Makererean, nevertheless). Anyhow, now that we have paid the 600m/= we owed UTL and MTN (or at least some of it) and we have back our internet connection, I might just be hanging here a little more.