The 21st Century is For Africa - President Akufo Addo Declares
President of the republic, Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo Addo has declared
that the 21st Century is for Africa and none other, emphasizing that
African countries can claim it if we believe in ourselves.
Delivering a keynote address at a lecture organized by the Kukah Centre
at the Yar'adua Conference Centre in Wuse, Abuja, under the theme "How
to Make Democracy Work for Africa", President Akufo Addo said he
"believes that stable democracies in Africa can help unleash energies to
drive the transformation of the continent. There is a lot of talk that
this will be the Asian century, the Chinese century - but take it from
me, the 21st century holds excellent prospects for Africa. This can be
Africa’s century. We can claim it, if we believe in ourselves".
What is the Current African Situation Now?
President Akufo Addo observed that "there was a time in Africa when
most countries were one-party states and everybody had to belong to that
party. Some decades ago, all the radio and television stations and
newspapers were exclusively owned by the government". The President
further stated that "If you wanted to hear any voice in opposition, you
would probably have to tune in to a foreign radio station, like the BBC.
Most of our youth are unaware that a culture of silence used to reign
in most parts of the continent".
"We are not quite there yet",
the President said, but "there is far more self-confidence among
Africans today, than there has been since the very early days of
self-government." He stated further that,"Freedom and the principles of
democratic accountability are strengthening the determination of
Africans to build a new Africa, that is neither pawn nor victim of the
world order". These happenings on the continent, he believes, marks the
current state of Africa and it presents the best opportunity for the
continent to develop it's democracy.
The Place of the Youth In The Democratic System of Governance
President Akufo Addo intimated that the greatest challenge for Ghana
and for the entire African continent, remains the creation of
sustainable jobs. "Our young people must see and feel the dividends of
the democratic system of governance. In the one year that I have had the
privilege of leading my country, I have tried to be honest with the
people of Ghana. We are nowhere near where we should be and where we all
want to be, but there is a feeling we are all in this together and we
shall get out and prosper together", the President said. He called on
the continent to make an honest assessment of itself and its situation
if it's to take advantage of the democratic wind blowing across the
nations of Africa. "I wonder, whatever happened to the peer review
mechanism? There might be 54 countries and we might resent being lumped
together for the wrong reasons, but there are ties that bind us together
as Africans. We have good reasons to be proud of who we are, and the
beautiful continent that is ours," the President stated.
Observation of the Nigerian Vice President
Vice President, Federal Republic of Nigeria, Professor Yemi Osinbajo,
delivering the Special Guest of Honour address at the same event,
emphasized that the Keynote Speaker, President Akufo Addo, is the best
choice to speak on the theme for the public lecture. He observed that
ensuring security of the states of Africa is perhaps the greatest threat
to the democratization drive taking place on the continent. He urged
African leaders to give greater attention to the empowerment of security
institutions within their respective countries in order to strengthen
their capacity to secure the territorial integrity of the nations of the
continent..
The Kukah Centre
The Kukah Centre (TKC) is
a Nigerian-based policy research institute, founded by Most Rev.
Matthew Hassan Kukah, Bishop of the Catholic Diocese of Sokoto. The
Centre has offices in Abuja and Kaduna and treats political leadership
as a collaborative exercise that requires multiple governance structures
at various levels – individuals, households, small businesses, the
organized private sector, NGOs and government.
Interfaith
dialogue is at the core of the Centre’s work and involves actively
promoting conversations among Nigeria’s faith communities, as well as
between leaders in faith and public policy. The Kukah Centre aspires to
become Nigeria’s leading institution for the promotion of an active and
engaged citizenry by providing support for inclusive dialogue and
advocacy initiatives.
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