Ghana’s former President and African Union High Representative for Somalia, Flt Lt Jerry John Rawlings has called on the international community to urgently come to the aid of Somalia to help alleviate the agony of famine.
President Rawlings said a medium to long-term programme had to be put in place to prevent the reoccurrence of the devastating famine in the Horn of Africa region.
He also reiterated his calls for the examination and creation of a political solution to the Somalia conflict and urged all factions to open corridors to allow for the transportation of relief items to affected persons in the famine areas.
Speaking at separate meetings with the South African High Commissioner on Wednesday and the Cuban and Japanese ambassadors at his office on Friday, the AU High Representative who is now also the AU Ambassador on the Horn Africa Humanitarian crises said the debilitating effect of the famine on human life, particularly women and children was frightening.
He requested for assistance for the construction of wells as well as educational facilities for the re-establishment of schools as a lack of proper education has contributed to the easy drafting of children and young adults by some of the factions in the Somali conflict.
President Rawlings also called for a strong African response to the humanitarian crises to encourage others to also contribute. He said the African Union force in Somalia was poorly equipped and needed equipment such as speedboats and helicopters to allow for easy reconnaissance.
The scourge of piracy in the region, the former President said, could only to stopped, if the root causes of the conflict are identified and a peaceful solution found.
“Uganda and Burundi soldiers are doing a good job in an ill equipped situation and in a difficult and dangerous environment. Arms are brought in from the sea but they are unable to prevent that due to the lack of patrol boats.
“I believe we should create room for a political solution to the crises. The famine is most unfortunate but we can use it as an opportunity to mould a peace solution from all sides. The transitional government cannot be in place indefinitely. We need peace so there can be a national election and a national government,” President Rawlings stated.
The former President said the African Union has planned a pledging conference in Addis Ababa on August 25 where African governments, the international community, aid agencies and corporate institutions will be invited to participate and pledge their support to alleviate the famine in Somalia.
President Rawlings in his meeting with the new Japanese Ambassador to Ghana, Naoto Nikai, praised the people of Japan for their resilience in the light of the recent earthquake and tsunami in the Fukushima Prefecture.
He said the disaster “was a very painful experience and he was glad the worst appeared to be over and recovery underway. Japanese people have known adversities in the past and have become stronger and resolute.
“We cannot pretend we do not see what is happening. I hope it will serve as a lesson for all of us. We need to make the world a safer and better place for humanity.
“I think what has happened should make the world re-examine nuclear technology and how best not to endanger the world. I know Japan will do so and I hope others will follow with pre-emptive measures.”
Ambassador Naoto Nikai said a lot of work had gone into recovery since the devastating earthquake and some rail services in the affected areas had resumed.
On the humanitarian situation in Somalia the ambassador confirmed that Japan had voted 5 million dollars for the relief effort through the World Food Programme (WFP).
The outgoing Cuban Ambassador to Ghana, Dr Miguel Perez Cruz thanked President Rawlings for his support during his five-year tenure in Ghana and outlined the success of a new malaria eradication programme in Ghana, instituted by the Cuban government to eradicate malaria through the elimination of mosquito larvae.
Ambassador Cruz said there are 22 Cuban specialists in Ghana supporting their Ghanaian counterparts to implement the project, which involves the spraying of mosquito larvae with a naturally produced chemical that kills larvae,, thus preventing them from developing into mosquitoes.
The former President praised Cuba for the initiative.
Nana Konadu Agyeman-Rawlings who was also in the meeting said tackling malaria from the root cause was very welcome as a lot of malaria drugs on the market are substandard and do not effectively cure malaria.
Speaking to the South African High Commissioner, Madam Ndlovu, on Wednesday, President Rawlings spoke of the need for an African response to the famine in the Horn of Africa region.
Ambassador Ndlovu said it was encouraging that Africa was rising to the challenge.