Former President of Ghana, John Mahama, and former President of Botswana, Lt. Gen. Seretse Khama Ian Khama, have urged African leaders to consciously pursue unity and progress.
This, they said, would enable the continent to reach its full potential and achieve sustainable economic prosperity.
The former presidents gave the advice via a communiqué issued on Monday in Lagos from a panel session during the second edition of the African Heritage Awards, with the theme “Shaping Africa’s Path to Prosperity.”.
Mahama said the advice was pertinent in the wake of political instability that had wrecked parts of Africa, leaving a number of countries relegated to military rule.
He noted that Africa’s youthful population was fast-growing; thus, leaders must “move at a fast pace” to provide citizens with the dividends of democracy and achieve self-reliance.
“African countries can foster international cooperation by removing certain encumbrances, like visa restrictions, which are slowing down economic prosperity across the continent.
“Our founding fathers had wanted the African continent to come out of independence as one nation, but unfortunately, we lost that opportunity and became 54 different countries, flags, anthems, and markets.
“This has constituted trade tariffs and other barriers,” he said.
Mahama, however, admitted that Africa was currently moving in the right direction with the laid-out economic blueprints of the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA).
Similarly, former Botswana President Khama noted that, in spite of the huge amount of human and natural resources domiciled in Africa, the continent had not transitioned into economic prosperity.
Khama blamed corruption, bad leadership, political instability, and failure to put the interests of the people first as drawbacks of the continent.
“We need leaders who are humble enough to understand that their role is simply to be of service to their people.
“The media has for the longest time peddled only a negative narrative about the African continent, and we all have a responsibility to change that,” he said.
He urged the African Heritage Awards to continue to award and showcase the best that Africa has to offer.
Khama noted that many Africans do not know what their brothers and sisters are doing in their respective fields across the continent.
“It is high time we package and showcase our own brilliance as Africans, and we will continue to support you as this is an important undertaking that we should all promote,” he said.
Chief Host and Chairman, Heritage Times, Moses Siasia, said that the solution to the world lied within the African continent.
He noted that the continent had huge deposits of resources, not just mineral resources or the hydrocarbons and gas that we enjoy, but that the best resources that we have are human resources.
“Our people excel anywhere in the world. So we must not think less of ourselves as Africans. We must take charge; we must realise that we have the potential to be the solution the world needs,” he said.
Siasia also urged African leaders to pursue progress with a sense of urgency and purpose to meet global realities.
This, he said, was important as the world was fast tilting towards technological advancements, economic globalisation, and shifting geopolitical dynamics.
“As leaders of Africa, we must embrace these realities and adapt our policies and institutions accordingly,” he said.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that Mahama was honored with the African Advancement Award for Exemplary Leadership at the event.
Other distinguished Africans awarded alongside the former Ghanaian president were Dr. Jayne Onwumere, Chief Executive Officer, PWAN Group, who bagged the African Humanitarian Award. (NAN)
