President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo has called on African leaders to develop programmes and policies geared at improving the lives of its citizenry.
According to President Akufo-Addo, African leaders must end the numerous talk shops and put their ideas into action for the African continent to wean itself on its dependence on the West.
“We have done enough talking, and dare I say, we have enough conferences and workshops. We know what we need to do; it is time just to do it. We have run out of excuses for the state of our continent, we have the manpower, and we should have the political will. It is time to make Africa work.”
Speaking at the ongoing US-Africa Summit in Washington, President Akufo-Addo added that with quality leadership, Africa would develop.
President Akufo-Addo called on African countries to wean themselves off “begging” the West to earn global respect and change poor perceptions about the continent.
“If we stop being beggars and spend African money inside the continent, Africa will not need to ask for respect from anyone. We will get the respect we deserve. If we make it prosperous as it should be, respect will follow,” Mr Akufo-Addo said.
President Akufo-Addo further called for greater solidarity among Africans to address shared aspirations.
“Africans are more resilient outside the continent than inside. We must bear in mind that to the outside world, [there’s] nothing like Nigeria, Ghana or Kenya, we are simply Africans. Our destiny as people depends on each other,” he said.
Dozens of African leaders are in Washington to discuss cooperation with the US amid growing Chinese and Russian influence on the continent.