News24
12 Jul 2019, 23:41 GMT+10
Africa must change its relationship with Europe if it wants to become self-reliant and exploit rich resources that could transform the continent, Ghana's president said.
"Africa and Europe are natural partners... but (it's) a relationship that has to be different from what we've had up to now," Nana Akufo-Addo said following talks with his French counterpart Emmanuel Macron.
His remarks were made in an address to 400 representatives of the African diaspora in France who gathered at the Elysee palace in Paris, where the two leaders took questions from the audience.
"That relationship has enriched Europe but has not enriched Africa. So we need to change that dynamic and we can only do it by ourselves, taking the correct measures for our future," Akufo-Addo said.
"We have to get away from the idea that there is some Father Christmas who's going to come and develop our continent for us - there is no Father Christmas, there is just us," he said.
"So, Mr President, we're saying the time has come for us to take our destiny in our own hands," he said, directly addressing Macron.
A former British colony, Ghana does not have the same historical ties with Paris as other former French colonies in West Africa. When Macron went there in November 2017, it was the first-ever visit by a French president.
Calling the exiles home
Since taking office in 2017, Akufo-Addo has placed a major emphasis on encouraging African exiles to return home, particularly those in the United States, dubbing 2019 the "Year of Return".
And the diaspora could play a key role in Africa, as it did in China, whose transformation into the manufacturing hub of the world was driven in large part by massive levels of investment by its overseas community, he said.
"That development of China has changed the status and the position of Chinese all over the world," he said.
Those who led the independence movements that swept Africa six decades ago understood it would not only bring freedom from sovereign states but provide the basis for the social and economic transformation.
"That still hasn't happened," he said.
But with an abundance of natural resources and the world's youngest population - one in four people are under 19 - Africa was in a unique position.
"Once we find the means to educate this population and give it skills, then we're putting Africa on the path of very, very strong economic growth," he argued.
GET THE NEWS at your fingertips and download the News24 app for Android here now. Get it for your iPhone here.
Get a daily dose of Asia Pacific Star news through our daily email, its complimentary and keeps you fully up to date with world and business news as well.
Publish news of your business, community or sports group, personnel appointments, major event and more by submitting a news release to Asia Pacific Star.
More InformationDHARAMSHALA, India: The Dalai Lama turned 90 on July 6, celebrated by thousands of followers in the Himalayan town of Dharamshala,...
HONG KONG: China has fired back at the European Union in an escalating trade dispute by imposing new restrictions on medical device...
Chinese FM calls for joint efforts in finding right way for China, U.S. to get along China and the United States should work together...
New Delhi [India], July 12 (ANI): In a remarkable decision taken at the 47th Session of the World Heritage Committee, India's official...
How the Wests recklessness is testing Moscows nuclear patience A multipolar world is, by its nature, a nuclear one. Its conflicts...
The Hague [Netherlands], July 11 (ANI): Italy made history after securing qualification for the 2026 Men's T20 World Cup in India and...
WASHINGTON, D.C.: A federal rule designed to make it easier for Americans to cancel subscriptions has been blocked by a U.S. appeals...
BASTROP, Texas: In a surprising turn at Elon Musk's X platform, CEO Linda Yaccarino announced she is stepping down, just months after...
NEW YORK CITY, New York: Former British prime minister Rishi Sunak will return to Goldman Sachs in an advisory role, the Wall Street...
LONDON, U.K.: Physically backed gold exchange-traded funds recorded their most significant semi-annual inflow since the first half...
AMSTERDAM, Netherlands: Some 32 percent of global semiconductor production could face climate change-related copper supply disruptions...
NEW YORK, New York - U.S. stocks rebounded Tuesday with all the major indices gaining ground. Markets in the UK, Europe and Canada...