Let's take control of our destiny – Akufo-Addo to Africans

General News of Sunday, July 14, 2019

Source: starrfm.com.gh

2019-07-14

The President of Ghana, Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo, has charged Africans and their leaders to take charge of their own destiny, to abandon their mentality of dependence on aid and charity and to work for the transformation of their country.

Speaking at the African Diaspora Summit on Thursday, July 11, 2019, accompanied by His Excellency Mr. Emmanuel Macron, President of the French Republic, President Akufo-Addo noted that the independence obtained by most African countries, nearly six decades ago, did not have socio-economic transformation in these countries.

"Once we have changed the discourse on Africa, we must get away from the idea that there is somewhere" Santa Claus "coming to develop our continent for us. There is no "Santa Claus". There is only us. Once this mentality has changed, our relationships with other people will become much more structured, "said the President.

He noted that relations with European countries must be different from those that have persisted over the years.

"This relationship has enriched Europe, but not Africa. We must change this dynamic and we can only do this by taking the measures that are required for our future. That's where I focus … It can not be right that the continent that has the richest resources in the world is also the poorest country in the world. This disconnect is not a good thing, and we must work to change that, "added President Akufo-Addo.

With the President emphasizing the education of the young African population, he explained that "once we have found ways to educate and empower this population, we are putting Africa on the path to very, very strong economic growth, "he said. .

The President continued: "We can reproduce what has been done in Asia if, like them, we maintain the discipline and correct badysis of what we must do to move our continent forward. They have managed to transform the lives of millions of Chinese, Indians. Why can not we reproduce the same phenomenon on our continent? I have no doubt that those of you here can make an important contribution to the transformation we all seek. "

President Akufo-Addo maintained his position vis-à-vis Africa, without turning his back on the world, in his quest for autonomy.

"We live on the same planet. We need partnership and partnership with countries like France, the networks they have developed, their know-how in all areas in which we can benefit. It is up to us to define the relationship we want with the rest of the world. We should not be caught in a language or narrative that says we are an appendage to the thinking and politics of others. It will not help us, "said the president.

In the African diaspora, he reminded them that the fate of all blacks in the world, wherever they are, is linked to Africa.

"Let me repeat that the fate of all blacks in the world is linked to Africa. A successful Africa raises the status of all blacks around the world. A non-performing Africa persists in the situation where blacks around the world are despised, "said President Akufo-Addo.