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Jonathan in Ghana:My Specific Vision for ECOWAS
By Danlami Nmodu
Newsdiaryonline Sun Oct 9,2011
Jonathan in Ghana
(Picture:The Guardian)
President Goodluck Jonathan has outlined what he described as
his specific vision for
the Economic Community of West African States, ECOWAS.Jonathan
spoke in Ghana at the50th
anniversary of the Ghana Institute Of Management And Public
Administration (GIMPA) and conferment on him of a honorary
doctor of laws degree by GIMPA, Accra,
Saturday, 8th October 2011.
According to Jonathan,"My
specific vision for ECOWAS rests on the following important
pillars: The
creation of a sub-region without frontiers where the people have
access to its economic resources and enjoy them by creating
opportunities for social production and jobs in the framework of
equitable distribution systems;The provision of an enabling
environment within which people ply their business and live in
peace;(And)The emergence of a zone that is an integral part of
the African continental space, where all human beings live in
dignity and benefit from fair trade and mutual solidarity, and
guided by shared principles."
He added that “It is within these parameters that I recognize
the attainment of the following objectives by our organization
and its member states:The implementation of the ECOWAS Protocol
and common tariff;The Trade Liberalization scheme;The Free
Movement of Persons, Goods and Services; and The Right of
Establishment which has greatly facilitated good neighbourliness
and peaceful co-existence in our region”
Jonathan also highlighted the fact that "we have a
clear duty to ensure that about 230 million of our brothers and
sisters in our sub-region
live in harmony, peace
and security, and to pursue their trade and vocations without
undue hindrances imposed by states and their agencies. The days
when states dictated exclusivity of interests and carved out
boundaries and spheres of interest in commerce, industry and
trade are veritably over.”
Read the full text of Present Jonathan’s address below:
REMARKS BY
DR. GOODLUCK EBELE JONATHAN, GCON, GCFR,
President, Commander in
Chief of the Armed Forces Of the Federal Republic of
Nigeria
AT THE 50TH ANNIVERSARY
OF THE GHANA INSTITUTE OF MANAGEMENT AND PUBLIC ADMINISTRATION
(GIMPA) AND CONFERMENT ON HIM OF A HONORARY DOCTOR OF LAWS
DEGREE BY GIMPA
ACCRA, SATURDAY, 8TH OCTOBER 2011
PROTOCOLS
I would like, first of
all, to warmly thank my Dear Brother and Friend, His Excellency,
Prof John Evans Atta Mills, for extending to me an invitation to
participate in this important celebration of the 50th
Anniversary of the Ghana Institute of Management and Public
Administration (GIMPA).
My appreciation also
goes to Dr Christina Amoako-Nuama, Chairman, GIMPA Council, the
Rector, and the Deans and distinguished members of Faculty for
their kind invitation. I wish to commend all of you for the
brilliant efforts that you have put into organizing this
historic event. I am glad and touched by your invitation, and
the recognition that you have given me and Nigeria by this
gesture.
Golden
Jubilees are important occasions for reflection and stocktaking.
They also indicate to us how far we have gone with a project,
and what we need to do to sustain the labours of past leaders,
and chart the course for a successful future.
Occasions such as this
also offer us one crucial opportunity – they inspire us to do
our utmost best to excel and to make a difference in whatever we
do. Management and planning after all are about foresight,
prudence and organization aimed at judicious use of persons and
resources.
The Ghana Institute of
Management and Public Administration stands on a unique pedestal
among its peers.
Your Excellency,
Distinguished Guests, Ladies and Gentlemen, let me seize this
opportunity to convey to you what Ghana means to us in Nigeria.
Ghana is not a country apart, distinct in the sense of a
separate and alien entity. Ghana is us and we are Ghana. This
country inspired and challenged us to reach for our independence
when the odds were not too brilliant, and the obstacles were
seemingly insurmountable.
Our two countries and
people have shared values and cherished the idea of freedom and
democratic governance. The ties between us predate the colonial
period. In modern times, our relations have remained fraternal,
cordial and satisfactory on all fronts.
Our close relation has
enabled us to share a common vision not only for our respective
people, but for our entire sub-region. We committed ourselves to
making our sub regional body, ECOWAS, a leading and indeed
exemplary organ of integration and close cooperation among our
nations.
We have jointly pushed
for, and attained with our friendly and brotherly nations, a
purposeful and forward-looking regional organization, which
seeks to ensure integration and the achievement of the common
aspirations of our people. We have made appreciable progress in
many policy areas in the organization.
This dynamism must be
maintained and indeed encouraged. We can only do so with the
right calibre of technocrats and managers, the training and
production of which are the primary business of GIMPA and its
sole objective.
Your Excellency,
Distinguished Guests, Ladies and Gentlemen, my invitation letter
required me to articulate my vision for ECOWAS.
My specific vision for
ECOWAS rests on the following important pillars:
(i)The creation of a
sub-region without frontiers where the people have access to its
economic resources and enjoy them by creating opportunities for
social production and jobs in the framework of equitable
distribution systems;
(ii)The provision of an
enabling environment within which people ply their business and
live in peace;
(iii)The emergence of a
zone that is an integral part of the African continental space,
where all human beings live in dignity and benefit from fair
trade and mutual solidarity, and guided by shared principles.
It is within these
parameters that I recognize the attainment of the following
objectives by our organization and its member states:
The implementation of
the ECOWAS Protocol and common tariff;
The Trade Liberalization
scheme;
The Free Movement of
Persons, Goods and Services; and
The Right of
Establishment which has greatly facilitated good neighbourliness
and peaceful co-existence in our region.
Your Excellency,
Distinguished Ladies and Gentlemen, we have a clear duty to
ensure that about 230 million of our brothers and sisters in our
sub-region live in
harmony, peace and security, and to pursue their trade and
vocations without undue hindrances imposed by states and their
agencies. The days when states dictated exclusivity of interests
and carved out boundaries and spheres of interest in commerce,
industry and trade are veritably over.
Today, in this rapidly
globalizing world, we in this region must use the state as an
agent of change, development and progress. We must transform the
state to be positively receptive to the yearnings of our people
for integration, commerce and free movement of goods and
services. Indeed the state must unleash the creative genius of
our people and their unbounded energy and industry that in past
centuries, gave rise to the Trans Saharan Trade and sustained
our people for generations.
We all know the capacity
of our people to excel in the area of commerce and industry. The
ancient Empire of Ghana, the Ashanti Empire of old, the Songhai
Empire, the Empires of Mali, Kanem-Borno Empire and others, all
rose up and prospered on account of this historic trade.
Likewise, the kingdoms of Dahomey and Benin and the southern
states in our region benefited enormously from this interaction.
Today, many of us look
beyond our shores to other lands and climes for inspiration. But
I say to you that we should rather look inwards to our past and
present conditions to gain the needed motivation to move our
collective project called ECOWAS forward.
Your Excellency,
Distinguished Ladies and Gentlemen, I wish to emphasize the
point that my vision for ECOWAS, especially the integration of
the sub-region, is not limited to economic matters only. My
vision includes the integration of our people as one family. In
spite of the differences in languages, and inherited cultures,
our people should think and act with one purpose.
The integration that I
hope for should include the politics of our region, the
education and training of our people, our approach to
globalization, and the harmonization of other essential values
such as cultural exchanges as well as youth empowerment
programmes.
I believe the signs are
good and the trend is encouraging toward full integration of our
region. For the
first time all the countries in the sub-region are under a
democratic dispensation. All the governments in the region came
into office through the exercise of their people democratic
rights by popular elections.
Ensuring democratic
governance and peace in our sub-region, however, needs more than
merely putting elected officials into office. It requires
substantial manifestations. Good governance and accountability,
probity and objectivity, and above all, expertise in enterprise
and competence, are the ingredients that are needed to ensure
that the dividends of democracy reach all our people, and the
institutions that we have established work for us effectively.
When all is said and
done, what matters to our people is the sustainability of their
daily lives driven by useful labour and gainful employment.
These are some of the things that we need to constantly address
when we discuss governance and public administration. I have no
doubt that these are among several other subjects that GIMPA
teaches its students. Management and public administration are
at the heart of governance.
Without competent
management and conscientious administration, the goods cannot be
easily delivered to our populations, and governments would
merely be shadows without substance. The economic challenges
that we wish to overcome, and the social transformations that we
aim to achieve in our countries, cannot be addressed if we do
not imbibe the ethos of professionalism and expertise in
management and public administration.
It is a testimony of the
great wisdom and foresight of the founders of this institution
that they established it and gave it the important mandate which
it has so far discharged with brilliance and competence. GIMPA
is celebrating its 50th Anniversary today. I am informed that it
has established many collaborative programmes with many foreign
universities, international organizations and professional
bodies.
I note with satisfaction
that one of the countries that has benefited and continues to do
so from GIMPA’s services is Nigeria. I wish to encourage the
institution to search for more avenues for cooperation with
Nigeria’s public and private sector organizations, and
like-minded state institutions to expand their horizons and
render valuable services to our two countries, and our region at
large.
May I also congratulate
GIMPA’s council on the decision to build a befitting library for
the Institute. Libraries are depositories of knowledge and even
in this age of computers and electronic libraries, the presence
of such a befitting edifice on the campus will go a long way to
encourage diligence among students and researchers, and provide
testimony to the value of education and excellence that the
Institute upholds.
I wish to congratulate
my Dear Brother and Friend, His Excellency President Atta Mills,
on the occasion of this Anniversary. You should be proud that
such an Institute as this, is the common heritage of all
Ghanaians and a legacy for future generations.
I call upon the
administration, management and students of this noble
Institution to redouble their efforts and ensure that the torch
that was lit by the founding fathers is not only held aloft by
you, but also made to shine even brighter and more lustrous than
before. I want you all to be a beacon of hope and an example to
all of us in the sub-region as you take your rightful places in
the various administrations and commercial enterprises of your
respective countries.
I feel very much
honoured to be part of this celebration.
With hope and confidence in God Almighty, GIMPA will
successfully celebrate its Diamond Anniversary. Let me also
thank the Governing Council of GIMPA for the honour done to me
and my country, with the award of a Honorary Doctorate Degree.
God bless the Republic
of Ghana;
God bless the Federal
Republic of Nigeria;
And God bless Africa.
I thank you all
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