President Akufo-Addo In A group Photograph With Members Of The Panel Including President Paul Kagame Of Rwanda And Others
President Akufo-Addo was at his usual best yesterday when he made a diagnosis of the issues confronting the African continent.
Speaking at the ‘High Level Africa Roundtable On Mobilizing Support and Accelerating Implementation Of The Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)’ in Accra, he noted that “some of our economies continue to register robust and sustained growth; our continent continues to be blessed with a dynamic and youthful population, some of who are well…in technology and innovation.”
With him at the discussions were Rwandan President, Paul Kagame; Chairman of the African Union Commission (AU), Mahamat Moussa Faki; celebrated American economist, Professor Jeffrey Sachs and a host of other high-profile personalities.
Whether in the arts, sports, academia, business or international relation, President Akufo-Addo indicated, “Africa is regaining her self-confidence on the international stage, and across the globe, there is an increase in interest in the phenomenal economic potential that exists on the continent.”
Concern
President Akufo-Addo admitted, “It is not all a good news story and herein lies the paradox; there are justifiably pressing demands to address widespread unemployment, especially among the youth, to enhance livelihood incomes and opportunities, to intensify and deepen social service delivery and to deal with the sense of hopelessness in the future that compels large numbers of Africa’s youth to travel across the Sahara Desert and traverse perilous oceans in search of what in most cases proves to be an elusive better life in the developed world.”
He continued, “As we endeavour to address these challenges and the huge expectations that citizens have, we have great prospects in using the SDGs to open up opportunities for all citizens and do so in ways that leave no one behind.”
Task
As co-chair of the United Nations Secretary General’s eminent group of advocates, President Akufo-Addo stated, “I have a high responsibility together with my colleagues to promote the engagement of new stakeholders in the implementation and financing of the SDGs and to encourage government’s civil society and the private sector to drive accelerated implementation of the SDGs.”
That, he said, was because “if we are to succeed in our noble ambition to transform, employ masses of our people out of poverty and deprivation, Africa must pursue implementation of the SDGs with a strong sense of urgency and an unparalleled commitment to act now.”
His reason was, “We do not have the luxury of time when it comes to the pressing challenges of poverty, climate change, youth unemployment and the myriad of issues that confront the continent.”
That notwithstanding, he was confident that “Africa has the knowledge, the talent and the resources to transition from poverty to prosperity.”
Solution
For this to happen, the president noted, “It takes a different kind of leadership; one that is selfless and empowering; it will take smart and progressive policies that enable growth and transformation; it will take innovative approaches to financing our development; it will take smart strategic partnerships; it will take fully unleashing the potential of the domestic private sector; it will take fully leveraging innovation and making it a currency of our development and most importantly, it will take the empowerment of Africa’s women.”
President Akufo-Addo was of the firm conviction that “no group of persons has more to gain from the successful implementation of the SDGs than the African people.
“We must make governments and governance systems work for the eradication of poverty, for the creation of prosperity and wealth.”
By Charles Takyi-Boadu, Presidential Correspondent