Church leaders from African countries met in Accra, Ghana on 12-13 November 2007 to discuss their vision about EU-Africa relations. It was organised jointly by the All Africa Conference of Churches (AACC) and the Symposium of Episcopal Conferences of Africa and Madagascar (SECAM, the continental Roman Catholic body of bishop’s conferences), and was the first time ever that the two bodies came together to discuss such an issue. Discussions were partly based on a continent wide study by the same organisations on views and perceptions by the church in regards to the EU-Africa strategy.
The meeting issued a declaration addressing Heads of State and Governments in Africa, the African Union and the European Union, which included the following issues:
- The EU-Africa relationship does not resemble a partnership of equals, and this is also evident in the EU-Africa Strategy.
- Contradictions are perceived in the formulation of the Strategy and reality of daily politics.
- The Strategy should provide possibilities for holding governments accountable.
- Good governance is one of the key factors for sustainable development.
- Migration is a development issue and migrants’ rights should be protected.
- African countries should establish policy frameworks to respond to climate change and European states should reduce their use of non-renewable energy sources.
- Concern that EPAs will adversely affect the African economic and social development and lead to the increase of poverty levels.
Download the declaration – pdf
Download the background report – pdf
Download the programme – doc
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