PRESIDENT AKUFO-ADDO, AFRICAN LEADERS COMMIT TO
INCLUSIVE, JOB-CREATING ECONOMIES
The President of the Republic, Nana
AddoDankwaAkufo-Addo, together with Heads of State and Governments from some 30
African countries, have committed themselves towards ensuring that economic
growth in their respective countries would lead to a more “inclusive economy”,
which will create jobs for the youth in the coming years.
In a communiqué issued on Saturday, January 14, 2017,
at the end of the 27thAfrica-France Summit held in Bamako, Mali, the
Heads of State agreed to the realisation of this commitment within the
framework of the International Sustainable Development Agenda –the Addis Ababa
Action Agenda on Financing for Development, the United Nations Sustainable
Development Goals, the Paris Agreement on climate change and the African
Union’s Agenda, 2063.
With French President, François Hollande, in
attendance, development assistance amounting to 20 billion euros to participating
countries,by 2018,was also pledged by the French government.
To this end, the Heads of State and Governmentsindicated
that education and vocational training would behigh priorities, as these will
improve “human development and the integration of young Africans in the labour
market.”
They, therefore, agreed to strengthen the management
of education systems on the continent by focusing on quality, particularly by
putting in place efficient training and assessment policies, as wellpromoting
top-quality vocational training.
An appeal was made to ‘international partners’ to
increase their support for the sectors of education and vocational training in
Africa, and also for consideration to be given to modern, accessible and
vocational content, which meet the needs of the labour market.
The communiqué also stressed the importance of
mobility and the movement of skills on the continent, in order to encourage
economic dynamism and innovation. In addition, the importance of innovation and
digitization to encourage the diversification of economies was highlighted.
Participating countries at the Summit also pledged to
support incentive-based policies to facilitate innovation, including incubator
and acceleration programmes for startups and clusters, as well as access to
finance and investment capitals.
“They (Heads of State) will try to increase links
between the private and public sectors in order to speed up the digital
transition of economies.”
Recognizing the special contribution of the health
sector to the creation of jobs, economic growth and achieving sustainable and
inclusive development, participating countries agreed on the need to invest in
health, which, in their opinion, is a “profitable and high-growth economic
sector which is a factor for stability and a driver of employment.”
As investments in Africa are essential to the
emergence of the continent, the Heads of State decided to step up their efforts
to allow access to finance for companies wishing to invest in Africa. In line
with its commitments, France has already granted 11 billion euros of guaranteesfor
African business. They welcomed the efforts made to improve the business
climate and urged that more reforms take place in that area.
The Heads of State present called for the renewal of
an ambitious and modernized partnership between the European Union and the African,
Carribean and Pacific countries (ACP) so as to promote shared values, meet the
challenges of sustainable development, increasing mutually beneficial trade and
tackling challenges in the spirit of solidarity.
Improving Regional Security
On the matter of security in West Africa, the Heads of
State resolved to develop joint border patrols in the fight against Boko Haram,
with France pledging to continue supporting the operationalisation of the
Africa Standby Force.
In order to provide African peacekeeping operations
with sustainable and predictable sources of funding, the Heads of State
gathered welcomed the AU’s decision to find a sustainable financing mechanism
for the Peace Fund. They also welcomed the EU’s contribution to the financing
of these operations and recalled the need to diversify international support.
The communiqué also called for an urgent reform in the
United Nationsand in its Security Council, through the enlargement of its
membership in both categories, with a greater African presence, especially
amongst its permanent members, so as to make the Council more representative of
today’s world.
