The UK government has pledged an amount of ?105 million to assist Ghana attain universal basic education in 2015 which is core of the Millennium Development Goal, MDG II.

The pledge follows an earlier ?17m donated by the UK government as its contribution towards a peaceful organisation of election 2012. The 17 million is to be used in training polling agents, police and other key stakeholders in the electoral process.

This was disclosed by the Foreign Minister Mohammed Mumuni at a Commonwealth roundtable discussion held at the British High Commission in Accra.

The discussion led by Lord Howell, UK Minister of State responsible for all of Foreign and Commonwealth Office Business in the House of Lords and the Ghana Foreign Minister, was to brief the media about the many reforms geared towards making the Commonwealth Nations respond to the challenges of its people.

Alhaji Mohammed Mumuni said the Commonwealth is no longer a Commonwealth of nations but of people within the nations.

He said as part of the many reforms, an Eminent Persons Group (EPG) was instituted and chaired by the Executive Director of the Institute for Democratic Governance, Dr. Emmanuel Akwete to pinpoint specific areas to strengthen the Commonwealth.

The EPG has concluded its work and has presented its recommendations to the Commonwealth for acceptance.

One of the many recommendations is the new Commonwealth Charter which is to bring all the values- good governance, rule of law, respect for human rights etc under one big umbrella.

Mr Mumuni was hopeful that in spite of the diversity of cultures and sensitivities, the Charter will provide common grounds for issues in terrorism, human rights, small arms, human trafficking, and piracy.

Lord Howell said the Commonwealth is emerging as the most valuable network to deliver values of prosperity and gains to all.

Having served 40 years in the Commonwealth Parliamentary Group, Howell is convinced the Commonwealth is the face for the future.

He said the new reforms will ensure that Commonwealth will match up to the standards and not just be a talk-shop.

He told Myjoyonline.com at the sidelines of the meeting that ?Commonwealth will reinforce the idea that no one country can have complete isolation and monopoly of its own affairs.?

Dr Emmanuel Akwetey, who was also a member of the panel, was hopeful the Commonwealth Ministerial Action Group, which is the custodian of the values of Commonwealth will look into the recommendations proffered by the EPG.

He is convinced, more than ever that the Commonwealth will be able to deal with issues of inequality and promote the quality of education across member countries.

The discussion was hosted by the British High Commissioner to Ghana, Peter Jones, and had other diplomats and political party representatives in Ghana attending.