The NEWS (Monrovia)
Jimmey C. Fahngon
16 May 2008
Monrovia — Sierra Leonean President Ernest Bai Koroma has stressed the promotion of good governance within the Mano River Union (MRU) so as to make it more credible in meeting the needs of its peoples.
President Koroma said with the promotion of good governance, peace, stability and democracy would be sustained in the region.
He observed that bad governance over the years had led to the conflicts in the region, and as such, it should not be promoted or encouraged any longer.
President Koroma spoke Thursday at the opening of a one-day MRU submit held at the auditorium of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Monrovia.
He said now was the time for leaders of the MRU to promote good governance in their respective countries in order for the union to succeed in its endeavors.
The Sierra Leonean leader also stressed the necessity for the protection and promotion of human rights within the region, and further called for the participation of civil society groups and grass-rooters in issues that affect their wellbeing.
President Koroma also called for the strengthening of the MRU especially in the area of food production, adding "we but focus on the prioritization of agriculture activities in our countries so that we can be food secured."
For his part, the Prime Minister of Guinea, Lansana Kouyate who represented President Lassana Conte stressed the need for cooperation among member states of the MRU which, he said, was keyed to development within the subregion.
He said no one country can succeed in its development agenda except it collaborates with others, saying "we must cooperate and collaborate if we are to succeed in developing our region."
Prime Minister Kouyate, like President Koroma, stressed the need for countries of MRU to engage in agricultural activities so that they can be self-sufficient in food production.
Ivorian Laurent Dona Fologo, Chair for Economic and Social Council who represented President Laurent Gbagbo, said it was time for members of MRU to work together in the interest of their peoples.
He pledged his country's support in making the MRU a more vibrant and functional union that would develop the region.
At the end of the Submit, the leaders of MRU in a communiqué agreed that each member country contribute US$100,000 for the payment of retired staff of the union.
They also called for the strengthening of the Secretariat of the Union. To this, they agreed that each member country contribute US$125,000 to strengthen the secretariat in order for it to develop programs geared toward the upliftment of the union.
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Is His Excellency trying to be humourous?When it comes to Governance,all the States enjoy their sovereignity and they will govern the way they deem fit.Id he trying to talk like USA?