Ghana’s former President and African Union High Representative for Somalia, Flt Lt Jerry John Rawlings arrived in Dubai, United Arab Emirates on Wednesday to participate in a high-level public-private sector conference on counter-piracy hosted by the government of the UAE and global ports operator, DP World. Organised under the theme, “A Regional Response to Maritime Piracy: Enhancing Public Private Partnerships and Strengthening Global Engagement”, the two-day conference seeks to provide a platform for various international and regional initiatives in the counter-piracy field, while augmenting existing ones. Ex-President Rawlings who is leading the African Union delegation to the conference will on Wednesday deliver a keynote address at the opening ceremony, on the current situation in Somalia. The former President will on Thursday address a panel discussion on the humanitarian situation in Somalia and public-private sector responses. The discussion will examine the humanitarian situation in Somalia and how public-private responses can help rebuild Somalia to end the need for piracy. Leading speakers at the conference include Sheikh Abdullah bin Zayed al Nahyan, UAE Foreign Minister, Sultan Ahmed bin Sulayem, Chairman of global ports operator, DP World, Sheikh Sharif Sheikh Ahmed, President of the Transitional Federal Government of Somalia, UK Minister for Africa, Henry Bellingham and Augustine Mahiga, Special Representative of the United Nations Secretary General to Somalia.