Ghana to Support Peace Efforts in Somalia

Ghana President John Mahama at Aburi Festival 2012, a photo by paulinuk99999 (back in Ghana) on Flickr.

Ghana to Support Peace Efforts in Somalia

BY MAALIK_ENG, 20 MAY 2013

President John Dramani Mahama has affirmed Ghana's commitment to support efforts at restoring peace and security in Somalia.

He said he would make the issue of peace in Somalia an important agenda at the next African Union (AU) Summit in Ethiopia later this month.

President Mahama gave the assurance yesterday when the Vice-President of Kenya, Mr William Samoei Ruto, delivered a special message to him at the Golden Jubilee Lounge of the Kotoka International Airport (KIA).

Somalia, officially the Federal Republic of Somalia, is a country located in the Horn of Africa. It shares borders with Ethiopia to the west, Djibouti to the northwest, the Gulf of Aden to the north and Kenya to the east.

The country has been beleaguered by civil war since 1991. It started when a coalition of clan-based armed opposition groups toppled the nation's long-standing military government.

Various factions began competing for influence in the power vacuum that followed, which precipitated an aborted UN peacekeeping attempt in the mid-1990s.

Ghana's former President, Flt. Lt. Jerry John Rawlings, has been appointed AU High Representative for Somalia.

Touching on trade in Africa, President Mahama said he would be working with other African leaders to promote trade among the countries on the continent.

He said it was through such collaboration among African leaders that the continent could become competitive on the global market.

The President commended Kenya for the successful conduct of its presidential election and welcomed that country's decision to establish a mission in Ghana.

For his part, Mr Ruto said President Mahama was one of the emerging voices in Africa because of his views on important issues.

He said the Kenyan Government thought it prudent to approach him to seek his support for the AU Summit to treat the Somalia issue as an important agenda.

He said Kenya wanted a collective approach to shape an African response to the Somalia situation.

Mr Ruto said the decision by the Kenyan Government to establish a mission in Ghana was part of efforts to strengthen ties with Ghana.