13 April Accra, Ghana.: The 12th CAADP Partnership Platform meeting opened yesterday in Accra. The meeting brought together over 400 participants. High level African leadership at the side-meetings that took place in the morning before the official opening included H.E Mrs Tumusiime Rhoda Peace, Commissioner for Rural Economy and Agriculture of the African Union Commission who held several high level meetings and dialogues with, among others; AU States’ former Presidents; H.E John Kufour of Ghana and H.E Olusegun Obasanjo of Nigeria; Dr Ibrahim Mayaki, NPCA CEO, Dr Agnes Kalibata, President of Alliance for a Green Revolution in Africa (AGRA) and Minister of Agriculture and Forestry in the Republic of Sierra Leone, Prof. Monty Jones.

Commissioner Tumusiime and Dr Mayaki launched the “Seize the Moment” Campaign for Securing Africa’s Rise through Agricultural Transformation. The campaign was officially launched by AUC, NEPAD, AGRA (represented by Dr. Kalibata) and the African Development Bank, represented by Mr Benedict Kanu.

During the launch, Commissioner Tumusiime said the launch of the campaign would see the growth of more champions coming together to push for agricultural transformation, so that the next ten years of CAADP would demonstrate a tangible difference.

“The time to act is now,’’ she said.

Dr. Mayaki noted the importance of the launch, saying, “I believe in an ‘active’ minority. Smallholder farmers need to find spaces through which they can empower themselves in their various country contexts, within which they can co-create conducive environments for the growth of their potential. Moreover, I am now convinced more than ever, that Africa’s development will not come to be unless there is the full participation of women, the majority of whom are smallholder farmers,” Dr Mayaki said.

Also speaking at the launch, Dr. Kalibata encouraged the meeting participants not to drop the ball on CAADP and to stay on course for agriculture to sustain economies.

For more information contact:

African Union Commission

Ms Carol Jilombo

E-mail: Jilomboc@africa-union.org