" [1]Accra, Ghana 23 May 2010- A highly symbolic and significant ceremony took place in the Ghanaian capital of Accra on 23 May, as the Ghanaian President Mr John Atta Mills and the African Union Commission Deputy Chairperson Mr. Erastus Mwencha jointly lit a torch known as the Flame of Peace. The event was witnessed by Senegalese President Abdoulaye Wade, former Zambian President Kenneth Kaunda and hundreds of delegates.
It was a simple flame, burning from a small white canister, but its significance was huge, as the gathered dignitaries watched it burn and reflected on the consequences of conflict. Perhaps some among them had relatives who perished in conflict. Perhaps they themselves were victims at some point. The lighting of the flame was a solemn occasion; solemn because war devastates precious human lives. There was also a shared recognition that peace and stability are absolutely essential if Africa is to achieve its vision of being a prosperous and integrated continent. The flame itself may have been small compared to the gigantic task of actually ensuring that all guns fall silent on the continent, but it is one step towards achieving that goal.
Lighting of the flame of peace is part of continent wide activities planned by the African Union’s department of Peace and Security to mark 2010 as the Year of Peace as declared by African Heads of State and Government. The year is being celebrated under the slogan “Make Peace Happen”. And it was with this in mind that over 700 delegates witnessed the Accra leg of the lighting of the flame. The other initiative under the year of peace is the peace day, proposed for 21 September this year, when a cease fire shall be observed in conflict zones. The cessation of hostilities on this day is expected to enable people in conflict zones to receive vital supplies of food, water, mosquito nets and other emergency supplies.
The flame of peace has been lit in a number of other African countries and the process is continuing in more countries, as African leaders commit themselves to creating a peaceful continent.
Speaking at the occasion, the African Union Commission Deputy Chairperson reminded the audience that armed conflicts continue to kill thousands of people every year, create humanitarian disasters, wipe out livelihoods and the wealth of ordinary people. But more profoundly, he said, conflicts destroy the hope for a better future.
“We, as leaders, simply cannot bequeath the burden of conflict to the next generation of Africans”, he said, a heartfelt plea for an end to a situation that affects millions of African lives.
Media inquiries and interview requests may be forwarded to Mrs. Wynne Musabayana; Deputy Head of Communication at the AU in Ghana on +233 548283452 or wynnemusabayana@yahoo.com [2].
MESSAGE OF DR. JEAN PING, CHAIRPERSON OF THE AFRICAN UNION COMMISSION ON THE OCCASION OF THE CELEBRATION OF AFRICA DAY (25 MAY 2010) (English [3] / French [4])
