Over-reliance on external funding undermines AU independence – Mahama

President John Dramani Mahama has expressed concerns over the African Union’s reliance on external funding, indicating that it impedes the organisation’s ability to set its own agenda.

In an address delivered at the opening session of the retreat on the implementation of institutional reforms of the African Union, currently underway in Nairobi, Kenya, John Mahama stressed the need for financial independence for the AU.

He also called for the urgent implementation of the Kigali Decision on Financing the Union, a resolution adopted by African Union heads of state and government at the 2016 AU Summit in Kigali, Rwanda.

The decision sought to establish a reliable and predictable source of funding for the African Union, thereby reducing its dependency on external donors.

The ongoing retreat is expected to address key issues such as Terrorism in member states, financing, and Trade agreements among key challenges facing the union.

“Principles in how we conduct our affairs, ensuring that our policies and programmes translate into real change for our people, we must adopt a mechanism that prioritises accountability, transparency and value for money, ensuring that every resource is maximised for the benefit of the African people.

“Your excellencies one of the pillars of reforms is AU’s financial autonomy, the over-reliance on external partners for funding compromises the organisation’s independence for funding and ability to set its own agenda. The implementation of the Kigali decision on financing the union must be expedited,” he stated.

President Mahama also encouraged member states of the African Union to consider appointing more women and youth to leadership roles at all levels of governance as he proudly pointed to his decision to appoint Ghana’s first female Vice President as a key example.

“Africa’s future lies in its youth, over 60% of our population is under the age of 25 and yet their voices are largely absent in policy making. We must institutionalise a framework that empowers our young people and our women to lead at all levels of governance,” President John Mahama added.