Minister of State for Budget and National Planning, Prince Clem Ikanade
Agba has decried the dire consequences that illicit financial flows
have on the progress and development of the African, Caribbean and
Pacific (ACP) countries.
Speaking at the head of a Nigerian delegation to the 110th session of
ACP Group of States’ Council of Ministers’ meeting in Nairobi, Kenya on
Sunday, Agba identified with the Council’s decision to urge the European
Union (EU) for support in stemming the tide.
He took the opportunity of his remarks to commend the out-going
Secretary-General of the ACP, Dr Patrick Gomes, for his leadership of
the ACP Secretariat and contribution to the advancement and development
of the ACP member States during the past five years.
The Minister also underscored the need to pay close attention to
member-States’ relative contributions to the group and rallied his
counterparts from the West African regional bloc to canvass for an
equitable distribution of the ACP Secretariat’s management positions.
A statement issued by Nigeria’s Ministry of Finance, Budget and National
Planning in Nairobi said that the Council consequently adopted a
declaration for creation of an additional post of Assistant
Secretary-General to balance-out the regional slots for equity and
fairness.
According to the statement, the minister also noted the relevance of the
Centre for Transformation of Agriculture (CTA) based in Holland to the
development of the dominantly-agrarian economies of the ACP
member-States.
Agba was said to have emphasised “the need for continuity in its
operations beyond February 2020 when the financial commitments under the
ACP-EU Cotonou Partnership Agreement is expected to end.”
The ACP Group of States Council of Ministers Meeting in Nairobi, Kenya
on 6th – 8th December, 2019 was part of the events leading to the 9th
Summit of the ACP Heads of State and Government scheduled to convene on
9th – 10th December, 2019.
According to the statement, “The fundamental objective of the ACP Group,
which was created through the Georgetown Agreement in 1975, is to
engender sustainable development and poverty reduction within its 79
member States, as well as their greater integration into the world’s
economy.
“The Group has evolved from its structured cooperation with the European
Union (EU) as its main development partner, to be a major platform for
South-South and Triangular cooperation.
“As part of its governance structure, the ACP Council of Ministers is
directly engaged in policy making and monitoring the implementation of
directives of the Summit of Heads of State including the relevant
provisions of the ACP – EU Partnership.
“The 9th Summit of the ACP themed “A Transformed ACP: Committed to
Multilateralism” is coming at an auspicious time when the ACP and EU is
preparing to finalise negotiations for a new 20-year Partnership
Agreement, as well as, the revision of its Constitutive Act, the
Georgetown Agreement.”