President addresses ACP Summit

He said a move would reinvent the ACP Group to make it a viable international player in a rapidly changing world. President Mahama made the call at the 7th summit of ACP Heads of State and Government in Malabo, Equatorial Guinea, which was on the general theme: �The Future of the ACP Group in a Changing World: Challenges and Opportunities.� President Mahama who is the out-going President of the ACP Summit stressed the need for full commitment of the ACP States to peace and prosperity, the establishment of strong institutions, the rule of law, the protection of civil liberties as well as free, fair and transparent elections. He expressed concern about climate change, armed conflicts, natural disasters, soaring food and oil prices, piracy, terrorism, drug trafficking and gross human rights violations. He called on ACP States to work together to resolve the crisis in Mali. President Mahama also took the opportunity to canvass support for the candidature of Mr Alan Kyerematen for the post of Director General of the World Trade Organisation. He attested to Mr Kyerematen�s proven competence in trade matters, extensive diplomatic skills and negotiation pedigree and called on ACP States to demonstrate their solidarity by throwing their support and significant weight behind the sole African candidate who has been endorsed by the African Union. The ACP heads commended Ghana on its credible, transparent, free and fair parliamentary and presidential elections, which have contributed to the enhancement of democracy in Africa. The ACP heads appealed to the New Patriotic Party, the main opposition party in Ghana and in particular, its presidential candidate, to put the supreme interest of Ghana above any other, in determining the path to chart in the post-election period. The Summit was held under six thematic theme; �The Economic Partnership Agreement�, �Response to Challenges to Peace, Security, Stability and Good Governance in ACP States and Regions,� �The Future of Development Finance and the Post-Busan Global Partnership�, �Status of the ACP towards 2015 and beyond�, �Environment, Climate Change, Food Security and Rural Development in ACP Countries�, �Energy and Sustainable Development in ACP Countries.� Speakers at the summit includes President Teodoro Obiang Nguema Mbasogo of Equatorial Guinea, President Dr Boni Yayi of Benin and President of the African Union, Dr Mohamed Ibn Chambas, Secretary-General of the ACP Group of States, Dr Kenny D. Anthony, Prime Minister of St Lucia and Mr Henry Puna, Prime Minister of Cook Islands and Chairman of the Forum of Pacific Islands, President Faure Gnassingbe of Togo and President Paul Biya of Cameroun. Other participants included the Director General of UNIDO, the EU Commissioner in charge of Development and the Deputy Director-General of the International Renewable Energy Agency. Ghana�s delegation, which was led by President Mahama, included the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Alhaji Muhammad Mumuni, senior officials of the Ministries of Foreign Affairs and Regional Integration, Finance and Economic Planning, Trade and industry as well as presidential staffers. President Mahama handed over the mantle of leadership of the ACP Summit to President Teodoro Obiang Nguema Mbasogo of Equatorial Guinea. The President used the occasion to hold meetings on the sidelines of the Summit with a number of ACP Heads of State and Government as well as representatives of the United Nations and the European Union. The delegation also interacted with the Ghanaian community to address their concerns.