Former President of Ghana, John Mahama and that of Botswana, Lt. Gen. Seretse Khama Ian Khama, have urged African leaders to consciously pursue unity and progress.
This, they said, would enable the continent to reach its full potential and achieve sustainable economic prosperity.
They gave the advice via a communique issued on Monday in Lagos, from a panel session during the second edition of the African Heritage Awards, with the theme: “Shaping Africa’s Path to Prosperity”.
Mahama said the advice was pertinent in the wake of political instability that had wrecked parts of Africa, leaving a number of countries relegated to military rule.
He said Africa’s youthful population was fast growing, thus, leaders must “move at a fast pace” to provide citizens with the dividends of democracy to achieve self-reliance.
“African countries can foster international cooperation by removing certain encumbrances like visa restrictions, which is slowing down economic prosperity across the continent.
“Our founding fathers had wanted the African continent to come out of independence as one nation, but unfortunately, we lost that opportunity and became 54 different countries, flags, anthems and markets.
“This has constituted trade tariffs and other barriers,” he said.
Mahama, however, admitted that Africa was currently moving towards the right direction with the laid out economic blueprints of the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA).
Similarly, former Botswana President, Khama, noted that in spite of the huge amount of human and natural resources domiciled in Africa, the continent had not transited into economic prosperity.
Khama blamed corruption, bad leadership, political and politician instability and failure to put interests of the people first, as drawbacks of the continent.
“We need leaders who are humble enough to understand that their role is simply to be of service to their people.
“The media has for the longest time peddled only a negative narrative about the African continent and we all have a responsibility to change that,” he said. (NAN)
