Ghana Backs US$1 Billion AU Peace Fund, Calls for Faster Capitalisation
President John Dramani Mahama has called for the accelerated capitalisation of the African Union (AU) Peace Fund to its US$1 billion target, reaffirming Ghana’s commitment to sustainable African financing for peace and security across the continent.
The President made the call at the 21st Extraordinary Session of the Assembly of Heads of State and Government of the African Union in Luanda, where African leaders met to strengthen the continent’s conflict prevention and peacebuilding architecture. President Mahama arrived in Angola on Friday ahead of the summit.
He described the Peace Fund as a critical pillar of Africa’s ambition to finance its own peace support operations and reduce reliance on external resources.
“We welcome the progress made in operationalising the African Union Peace Fund and support its continued capitalisation towards the one-billion-dollar target,” President Mahama said.
He encouraged the African Union to accelerate implementation of its resource mobilisation strategy, including the effective application of the 0.2 per cent import levy, while expanding contributions from African financial institutions, the private sector and other African sources.
According to him, African ownership of peace and security must be matched by African ownership of its financing.
President Mahama also welcomed the United Nations Security Council Resolution 2719 of 2023, which provides a framework for financing African Union-led peace support operations through UN assessed contributions.
He said the framework should be effectively operationalised in a manner consistent with the principles of African ownership, accountability and shared responsibility for maintaining international peace and security.
The President urged African leaders to support summit decisions with practical and sustainable financing arrangements, stressing that predictable funding was indispensable to achieving lasting peace and stability across the continent.
Richard Aniagyei, ISD
