Ladies and gentleman,

Allow me to welcome you all to this important meeting of Centre-right parties in Africa.

It's indeed a great privilege and honor for me to be here today with you all. It's a privilege because Ghana was the first African nation to liberate itself from colonial rule and declare its own independence, thus setting a path and opening the road that every other country would soon or late follow.

An honor because we are meeting in a country that is being led by a sister party, a party which shares our vision, our dream and our values.

	we are pioneers in a continent where most of our people are not yet free, though their countries have long ago declared their independence....

Ladies and gentlemen,

Thus meeting in Ghana is different from meeting in any other country or place. For the two mentioned reasons we would like to make this conference an historic occasion, an occasion that marks a new beginning for Africa and for the world.

We live today in a globalized world. A world confronted with new challenges but also a world where the only ideology remaining is democracy. Democracy for which we are pioneers in a continent where most of our people are not yet free, though their countries have long ago declared their independence.

During this meeting we will be discussing issues that afflict our parties, our countries and the relationship with the international community.

I am convinced that when we leave this beautiful conference room and this beautiful country we will be more detemined and more clear of the challenges that our continent faces and the ways to overcome them.

I wish you all very productive meeting,

I thank you all.