[ 2017-01-27 ]

Kwesi Quartey vies for AU Deputy Chair position
Youth Without Borders (YWB) Ghana, an NGO with
focus on empowering young people, has urged
Ghanaians and leaders of other African countries
to endorse the candidature of Ambassador Kwesi
Quartey as Deputy Chairperson of the African Union
(AU) Commission.

In a press statement, YWB indicated that the
experience of Mr Quartey in his diplomatic career
in various capacities in Ghana’s Embassies and
High Commissions in Cotonou, Cairo, Brussels,
Havana, London, and the Ghana Permanent Mission to
the United Nations in New York makes him the most
suited for the role.

The group stated that the experience, skills, and
other qualities Mr Quartey has garnered in his
role as secretary to former President John Mahama,
his network with African heads of state and the
influential role he played as Deputy Minister of
Foreign Affairs and Regional Integration gives him
an upper hand in driving the agenda of the AU
Commission.

Below is the full statement:

The Patron, Board of Directors, Management and the
entire members of Youth Without Borders Ghana call
on the Government of Ghana, leaders at all levels,
the people of Ghana, both home and overseas,
African heads of state and Government and the
people of Ghana and Africa to support and elect
Ambassador Kwesi Quartey as the Deputy Chairperson
of the African Union Commission.

We at Youth Without Borders Ghana fully support
his candidature and we believe that at end of the
28th Summit of Heads of State and Government
currently ongoing at the African Union (AU)
Headquarters, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, the mantle
will be handed over to him as he so desires.
Similarly, we entreat all stakeholders to extend
the courtesies given to Alhaji Mohammed Mumuni and
Dr Mohammed Ibn Chambas to Ambassador Quartey. The
interest of Ghana and Africa must at all times
reign supreme.

Youth Without Borders Ghana believes that the
experiences of Ambassador Quartey in the course of
his diplomatic career, which spans a period of 35
years, makes him the best candidate for the job.
Kwesi Quartey served in various capacities in
Ghana’s Embassies and High Commissions in
Cotonou, Cairo, Brussels, Havana, London and the
Ghana Permanent Mission to the United Nations in
New York.

We believe that his recent role as Secretary to
Ghana’s fourth democratic President John Dramani
Mahama in the Fourth Republic and having served as
Deputy Minister for Foreign Affairs and Regional
Integration, his contributions towards the
development of West Africa and the continent as a
whole will enable him deliver excellently and
drive Agenda 2063 – the Africa we want and
sustainable development for Africa.

The position of Deputy Chairperson of the African
Union Commission (AUC) requires tact diplomacy and
advocacy. Ambassador Quartey’s role as Ghana’s
Ambassador to Ethiopia as well as the Permanent
Representative to the African Union and the United
Nations’ Economic Commission for Africa (ECA)
with concurrent accreditation to Uganda, Tanzania,
Burundi, Eritrea, Djibouti, and Rwanda and its
relevance to the AUC cannot be overemphasised.

As a youth development and empowerment
organisation, we advocate increased youth
participation in AU activities, create and empower
an AU Youth Directorate to enable them champion
the African youth development agenda. We also
expect to see a strong collaboration with the Pan
African Youth Union (PYU) and other continental
youth groups to be able to work together towards
the realisation of the African vision of a united,
peaceful and prosperous continent.

Youth Without Borders (YWB) Ghana once again
wishes Ambassador Kwesi Quartey the very best and
believes he can play a vital role in ensuring an
effective AUC, AU and Africa as a whole.

Signed:

King David Cartey
Director, Communications & Public Affairs

Source - classfmonline.com

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