Former President of Ghana John Mahama has expressed concern over underdevelopment in Africa. Speaking at an event in Lagos, the former Presidents of Botswana Dr. Seretse Khama and Mahama said Africa lacks the political stability, quality and selfless leaders to properly navigate it to its heights and make the continent a force to reckon with. The presidents, however, harped on the necessity for African leaders to have good leadership and political stability on the continent, noting this would help groom, breed brilliance and provide opportunities among Africans.
The two notable leaders made this call over the weekend in Lagos, at the Second Edition of the African Heritage Awards.
Their clamor for unity and progress came in the wake of political instability that has wrecked parts of Africa and has seen a number of countries slip into the military rule. Speaking during a strategic Panel Session themed: ‘Shaping Africa’s Path to Prosperity’, Mahama strongly noted that the youthful population of Africa is fast growing, thus, leaders must “move in a fast pace” to provide citizens with the dividends of democracy towards achieving self-reliance.
Mahama, who was honored with the African Advancement Award for Exemplary Leadership at the event, said African countries can foster international cooperation by removing certain encumbrances like Visa restrictions, which he said is slowing down economic prosperity across the continent.
“There’s more money leaving the African continent than money coming in. All the loans, donations and grants take more monies out of Africa than what comes in. In Africa, we should not need a visa to travel from Ethiopia to Ghana,” he said. Similarly, Khama, who was chairman of the event, regretted that despite the huge amount of human and natural resources domiciled in Africa, the continent has not transited into economic prosperity. He blamed corruption and bad leadership for the drawbacks. He explained that as a politician, he knew that a lot of the continent’s challenges and instability were caused by some selfish politicians.
Speaking further, he, however, observed that those politicians who failed to put the interests and needs of their people first were a cause for backwardness on the continent.
Source: Legit.ng
