Chairman of the ruling National Democratic Congress (NDC), Johnson Asiedu Nketiah, has been nominated and approved to serve a three-year term as the inaugural Chairman of the African Political Parties Initiative (APPI) following a high-level summit held in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.
The appointment comes as political leaders and party representatives from across the African continent gathered over the weekend to deliberate on the evolving role of political entities in driving sustainable economic transformation.
Reflecting on the core mandate of the conference, Mr Nketiah highlighted the central question that brought the continental delegates together in the Ethiopian capital.
“Parties came from across the continent for one question: Can we be architects of Africa’s economic future, or are we only organisations for winning elections?” he remarked.
Addressing the stark demographic and employment challenges facing the region, the NDC Chairman warned that traditional electioneering is insufficient to tackle Africa’s structural deficit.
“We are not yet what the moment requires. Between 10 and 12 million young Africans enter the labour market each year, and we create roughly three million formal jobs to receive them. That gap is not closed by campaigning,” Mr Nketiah noted.
He stressed that real progress depends on political organisations building deep policy capability well in advance of assuming power, alongside ensuring continuity across political transitions and championing inclusive governance.
“It is closed by parties that build expertise in agriculture, trade, energy and public finance before they take office, by governments that keep what works across a transition, and by bringing women and young people into the rooms where budgets are decided. That is what Agenda 2040 is for,” he stated.
Expressing appreciation for the continental support, Mr Nketiah voiced gratitude to the participating parties who placed their confidence in the new initiative, as well as the Africa Governance Centre and the Ethiopian hosts for facilitating the historic gathering.
By: Rainbowradioonline.com/Ghana