Africa ''needs good governance''

The second German-Africa Partnership Forum ended in Ghana on Sunday with a pledge for good governance and accountability in Africa

An initiative of German President Horst Koehler, the two-day forum gave about 50 youth leaders from Africa and Germany a chance to interact with high-ranking figures in politics, research and business on the challenges of African society.  

During a closing media conference, host Ghanaian President John Kufuor said the meeting had been "very successful".

In its final recommendations, the forum called for comprehensive reform of state institutions to make them transparent and accountable.

It also called on political leaders to sign and implement treaties for the protection and security of young people and for treaties to stop recruiting child soldiers and the proliferation of small arms.

Konare attends the forum

On education and employment, it recommended the incorporation of entrepreneurship into African school teaching and for "centres of excellence" in African Universities.

Presidents Olusegun Obansanjo of Nigeria, Festus Mogae of Botswana, Faure Gnassingbe of Togo, Ellen Johnson-Sirleaf of Liberia and Dr Yayi Boni of Benin attended the forum.

Alpha Oumar Konare, chairperson of the African Union Commission and Dr Mohammed Ibn Chambas, President of the ECOWAS Commission also attended the forum.

On Saturday, Koehler called for the European Union to change its attitude towards Africa and address double standards in areas such as trade and human rights.

He said: "It is inconsistent that we in Europe demand justice while closing our eyes to injustice in Africa. This also means that we in the north must change our behaviour."

Koehler also blasted Europe's "subsidised exports of surplus foodstuffs, which flood the African markets and prevent the independent development of a sustainable food base in Africa".

The German president left Accra on Sunday afternoon to return to Berlin after a four-day visit.