President Akufo-Addo has advised his colleague African leaders to stop begging the West for assistance.
"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," Mr Akufo-Addo said.
In his view, "Africans are more resilient outside the continent than inside,” adding that “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".
President Akufo-Addo said this at the opening of the US-Africa Leaders' Summit in Washington DC.
The Ghanaian leader’s comment to African leaders comes a day after Ghana’s Finance Minister, Ken Ofori-Atta announced the country had reached a Staff Level Agreement with the IMF over the nation’s request for a $3 billion bailout.
The country is in economic crisis and in need of an IMF support to boost investor confidence and fix the economy.
The government has blamed Covid-19 and the Russia-Ukraine war for the crisis but critics say the crisis is as a result of profligate expenditure and over borrowing leading to debt distress.
The U.S.-Africa Leaders’ Summit is being held from 13 to 15 December 2022.
The Summit underscores the value the United States places on its collaboration with Africa on the most pressing global challenges and opportunities and the Biden Administration’s commitment to revitalising global partnerships and alliances.
Day two of the summit, which is today, Wednesday, 14 December 2022 will focus on increasing two-way trade and investment at the U.S.-Africa Business Forum (USABF).
CEOs and private sector leadership from over 300 American and African companies will convene with the Heads of Delegation to catalyze investment in critical sectors, including health, infrastructure, energy, agribusiness, and digital.
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