President John Dramani Mahama has called for comprehensive reforms within the African Union (AU), emphasizing the need to empower women and youth in leadership positions, achieve financial independence, and enhance conflict resolution mechanisms.
This urgent appeal was made during the recent AU summit, where Mahama stressed the importance of revitalizing the continental body to better address the challenges facing Africa.
At the forefront of Mahama’s proposed reforms is the empowerment of women and youth, who are essential to Africa’s development and growth.
He advocated for increased representation and participation of women and youth in leadership positions, recognizing their immense potential to drive positive change.
Africa’s future lies in its youth, and over 60% of our population is under the age of 25,” Mahama said. “Yet, their voices are largely absent in policymaking. We must institutionalize frameworks that empower our young people and women to lead at all levels of governance.”
Financial independence is another critical area of reform highlighted by President Mahama.
He emphasized the need for the AU to reduce its dependence on external funding and instead, explore innovative ways to generate revenue and become self-sustaining.
In addition to empowering women and youth and achieving financial independence, Mahama also stressed the importance of enhancing conflict resolution mechanisms within the AU.
He recognized the devastating impact of conflicts on African nations and emphasized the need for more effective and proactive approaches to preventing and resolving conflicts.
President Mahama’s call for AU reforms is timely and echoes the aspirations of many Africans who are eager to see a more robust and effective continental body.
By empowering women and youth, achieving financial independence, and enhancing conflict resolution mechanisms, the AU can better address the complex challenges facing Africa and unlock the continent’s vast potential for growth and development.
