Ghana Backs AU Peace Fund Push and Luanda Action Plan

Ghana has reaffirmed its commitment to sustainable, predictable and African-owned financing for the continent’s peace and security agenda. Speaking at the 21st Extraordinary Session of the African Union Assembly in Luanda, President John Mahama stressed that early warning systems must lead to timely action, which requires reliable funding and a stronger African-led security architecture.

He also backed efforts to fully capitalize the AU Peace Fund towards its $1 billion target, including faster implementation of the 0.2 per cent import levy and greater contributions from African financial institutions and the private sector.

President Mahama also welcomed UN Security Council Resolution 2719 of 2023, which provides a framework for financing AU-led peace support operations through UN-assessed contributions.

He called for continued efforts to operationalize the framework while maintaining the principles of African ownership, accountability and shared responsibility for international peace and security.

At the Luanda summit, Mahama further endorsed the Luanda Action Plan, its implementation matrix and the African Union Trigger Model, which place greater emphasis on early warning and preventive diplomacy.

Mahama urged AU member states to attach clear responsibilities, timelines, measurable indicators and credible financing to the commitments adopted at the summit. He also highlighted the UN General Assembly's March 25 adoption of Resolution ARES8250, which he said recognized the enslavement of Africans as the gravest crime against humanity after securing the support of 123 member states.

As Ghana's role as the AU champion for reparations continues, Accra is positioning sustainable financing, preventive diplomacy and African ownership as central pillars of the continent's evolving peace and security strategy.