Ghana’s President, Nana Akufo-Addo, says African countries would only earn the respect of the world at large once we stop begging for money at all times.
Speaking during the opening of the US-Africa Leaders’ Summit in Washington DC, Akufo-Addo urged African countries to stop begging the West for money to change the perception about the continent.
“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.
The President said that the continent had skills and manpower but needed concerted political will to make “Africa work”.
The comments come on the same day Ghana secured a staff-level agreement with the International Monetary Fund (IMF) for a 3-billion dollar credit facility.
Finance Minister, Ken Ofori-Atta, expressed optimism that the deal would help turn around the country’s economic fortunes.
IMF Mission Chief for Accra, Stephen Roudet, said: “I am pleased to announce that the IMF team reached a staff-level agreement with the Ghanaian authorities on a three-year program supported by an arrangement under the Extended Credit Facility (ECF) in the amount of SDR 2.242 billion or about US$3 billion.
“The economic program aims to restore macroeconomic stability and debt sustainability while laying the foundation for stronger and more inclusive growth. The staff-level agreement is subject to IMF Management and Executive Board approval and receipt of the necessary financing assurances by Ghana’s partners and creditors.”
The U.S-Africa summit sees dozens of African leaders converge in Washington DC to discuss cooperation with the US amid growing Chinese and Russian influence on the continent.
Source: theGhanaianVoice.Com