Lord Ahmad urges Commonwealth nations to uphold accountability

The British Foreign Office Minister of State for Commonwealth and the United Nations, Lord Tariq Ahmad, has urged member states of the Commonwealth to uphold probity and accountability to help strengthen democratic governance.

In an interview with the Ghana News Agency (GNA) in Accra during a forum organised by TEDx and hosted by the British High Commission, Lord Ahmad said good principles of democracy ensures that there is an increasing levels of accountability and transparency; and as such, if these principles were adhere to, there would be sustainable democracies across Africa as well as a better future to build upon.

The forum dubbed “Africa’s Young Commonwealth” aimed at discussing the relevance of the Commonwealth, its opportunities and the role of the youth in ensuring that the objectives of the Commonwealth are achieved.

Lord Ahmad, who is on a three-day visit to Ghana, said, every member state of the Commonwealth subscribed to the importance of good governance; however, any member that does not subscribe, ‘feels is best served in serving itself’.

The Commonwealth of Nations (formerly the British Commonwealth), also known as simply the Commonwealth, is an intergovernmental organisation of 52 member states including Ghana that are mostly former territories of the British Empire. 
 
He said there are more opportunities Commonwealth member states could leverage on, if they work collectively and strengthen their relations.

He again noted that Commonwealth has recognized Ghana’s sustainable democracy; as the nation could boast of seven credible democratic elections, three changes of governments, coupled with the respect of the democratic mandate being given each party.

“For democracy to be sustainable you must start on a foundation of respecting results and we have seen that in Ghana,” he added.

Lord Ahmad urged all governments to subscribe to these values, as there was always room for improvement.

He said there is also a need for nations to be focus, build transparency in decision making and in terms of how procurement works in the supply chain; stating that “these are all opportunities to build for the future”.

GBC