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President Nana Akufo-Addo has stated that African countries must stop “begging” the West in order to gain global respect and reverse negative impressions of the continent.
“If we stop being beggars and spend African money inside the continent, Africa will not need to ask for respect from anyone, we will get the respect we deserve. If we make it prosperous as it should be, respect will follow,” President Akufo-Addo said.
He delivered the remarks at the start of the US-Africa Leaders Summit in Washington, DC.
Mr. Akufo-Addo called for deeper African unity to fulfill common ambitions.
“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 stated that the continent has talents and labor but that “Africa work” required a concentrated political will.
Mr Akufo-words Addo’s came on the same day that the International Monetary Fund decided to lend Ghana $3 billion (£2.4 billion) to help relieve the West African country’s historic economic crisis.
Dozens of African officials are in Washington to discuss collaboration with the US as China and Russia increase their influence on the continent.