Global Afrikan Congress (g.a.c.) Visits Nigeria

[XXPANTHAXX]

JANUARY 28, 2005
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:

A high level delegation of the international Pan-African network
organization known as the â?oGlobal Afrikan Congressâ?� (G.A.C.) has just
concluded a one-week fact-finding and promotional tour of Nigeria.

The delegation comprised the Honourable Cikiah Thomas of Canada, Chairman of
the International Working Committee of the G.A.C., and Ambassador David
Comissiong of Barbados, Ambassador Plenipotentiary of the G.A.C.

The Global Afrikan Congress is an international civil society organization
that is dedicated to the liberation, unification, development and
integration of the people, communities and nations of Africa and the African
Diaspora. It is registered in Canada, and has a membership that spans every
region of the Black World. The organization is led by a 22-member
International Working Committee, comprising of representatives from each
region of the Black World, including 10 representatives from the African
continent. Membership in the G.A.C. is open to already established Black or
African organizations and individual activists who are prepared to work in a
collective manner under the aegis of the G.A.C.

The visit to Nigeria of Chairman Thomas and Ambassador Comissiong was hosted
by the leaders of the Nigerian Chapter of the G.A.C. â?" the Honourable Bona
C. Okigbo-Okonkwo, the G.A.Câ?Ts West African representative; Dr. Michael
Unuane, Chairman of the Nigeria Chapter of the G.A.C; and Attorney-at-law,
Nwachuku Okonkwo, Chairman of the Lagos-based N.G.O â?oThe Centre For The
Development Of Africa Through Lawâ?� (CENDAL).

The initial phase of the G.A.C.â?Ts visit to Nigeria saw Chairman Thomas and
Ambassador Comissiong attending a meeting of the African Unionâ?Ts Civil
Society Forum in Abuja, and contributing towards plans to launch the A.U.â?Ts
Economic Cultural And Social Council (ECOSOCC) in late March 2005.

The latter phase of the visit centred on the city of Lagos, and featured a
major press conference on Tuesday, 25th January 2005 at which the G.A.Câ?Ts
mission was outlined in great detail.

UNITED NATIONS
Ambassador Commissiong explained to the Nigerian media that the G.A.C. has
its genesis in the United Nations World Conference Against Racism, and the
African and African Descendant N.G.O. Caucus which was established as a
mechanism to facilitate African participation in and impact on that
important U.N convocation, which produced the historic Durban Declaration
and Programme of Action.

Many of the resolutions that were included in the Durban Declaration and
Programme of Action were the result of the work of the African and African
Descendant Caucus.

He further explained that the G.A.C. as the permanent Pan-African
institution that succeeded the temporary African and African Descendant
Caucus, has therefore assume an â?oownershipâ?� of the Durban Declaration and
Programme of Action, and the associated U.N. Anti-Racism process.

The G.A.C is the vanguard of popularizing the Durban Declaration and
Programme of Action, and agitating for its implementation by the U.N., other
international organizations, and the 168 governments that â?osigned onâ?� to
the
Declaration and Programme of Action.

The G.A.C is in the process of seeking accreditation to the U.N. and intends
to take up its rightful place in all U.N. forums that are dealing with the
outcomes of the UNWCAR â?" the group of Eminent Experts on African and the
African Diaspora, the high Commission For Human Rights etc.

Furthermore, G.A.C. national chapters will do all in their power to hold
their national governments accountable for the obligations they assumed
under the Durban Declaration and Programme of Action.

REPARATIONS
The Honourable Cikiah Thomas also explained the fundamental importance of
the issue of Reparations to the G.A.C. He noted that if there is one
fundamental issue that unites the member organizations of the G.A.C., it is
the issue of Reparations to the people and nations of Africa and the
Diaspora for the losses and damage inflicted on them during 500 years of
enslavement and colonization.

There are several Reparations initiatives under way in several countries.
However, there is no international mechanism to link these initiatives
together, and to give direction and impetus to the reparations Movement at
the international level.

The G.A.C. fully intends to establish and provide such a mechanism, through
the G.A.Câ?Ts International Reparations Commission.

National Chapters of the G.A.C. will also establish National Reparations
Committees to do work at the national level, and to support the work of the
International Commission.

It is therefore anticipated that a G.A.C national Reparations Commission of
Nigeria will soon be established.

HIV/AIDS
The G.A.Câ?Ts chairman also gave some insight into the G.A.Câ?Ts work on the
issue of HIV/AIDS. He declared that since this manufactured disease has been
used to perpetrate genocide against African people, this disease
necessitates a Pan-African response.

The G.A.C. will therefore be in the vanguard of crafting such a Pan-African
response via the G.A.Câ?Ts International Health Commission chaired by eminent
Nigerian medical specialist, Dr. Michael Unuane.

National Chapters of the G.A.C. will also establish national HIV/AIDS
Committees to do work at the national level, and to support the work of the
International Commission.

The Chairman also divulged that the G.A.C is currently working on
establishing a model HIV/AIDS clinic and programme in Southern Africa.

THE AFRICAN UNION
Ambassador Commissiong spoke in detail about the importance that the G.A.C.
attaches to the African Union. He noted that the G.A.C. must, in a sense,
see itself as an N.G.O. counterpart of the inter-governmental African Union.

The G.A.C. is therefore seeking to establish a relationship with the African
Union, and will seek to bring its perspectives and influence to bear on the
African Union, in a fearless, principled and independent manner.

At present, the African Union is in the process of promoting the
establishment of Civil Society networks of the various regions of the
African Diaspora. The G.A.C. fully supports this initiative and resolves to
have its member organizations become members of all such regional networks.

TRANSCEND INDIVIDUAL ORGANISATIONS
Ambassador Commissiong also explained the relationship between the G.A.C.
and its member organizations. He declared that the G.A.C. was not
established for the purpose of supplanting individual organizations or to
take over the programmes of individual organizations.

On the contrary the G.A.C. expects that its member organizations will
maintain their individual identities and programmes.

What the G.A.C. is here to do is to deal with those larger, fundamental,
global issues and projects which we must deal with collectively, if our race
is to survive and prosper â?" fundamental international issues and projects
such as Reparations, HIV/AIDS, the United Nations, the African Union, which
are beyond the scope of individual organizations, and which require the
intervention of a global institution like the G.A.C.

The G.A.C. leadership is therefore urging and encouraging individual
organizations to give solidarity and support to these fundamental
international initiatives that the G.A.C. will be pursuing in the name of,
and for the benefit of the entire Afrikan collective.

CONTACT INFORMATION
All Nigerian individuals and organizations that are interested in becoming
members of the G.A.C or supporting the work of the G.A.C. may contact the
organisationâ?Ts West African representative, the Hon. Bona Okigbo-Okonkwo,
Attorney-at-law, as follows:
Hon. Bona Okigbo-Okonkwo
West African Representative, G.A.C
CENDAL
9, Lisabi Road, Apapa â?" GRA
Lagos, Nigeria. TEL: 7747557