The Ghanaian President Nana Akufo Ado preached an autonomous Africa, not depending on the western aid, speaking to his guest Macron his first time visit in Ghana.
It was during the joint press conference held in early December with the French president.
Responding to Ghanaian journalist who asked whether France would strengthen its “support” for other African countries apart from its former colonies, the Ghanaian Head of State served a “sankarist” rhetoric, inviting Africans to stay in Africa and fight for more independance.
“We want young Africans to stay in Africa. And this means that we must get rid of this mentality of dependence, this mentality that leads us to ask what France can do for us. France will do what it has to do for its own good (…)
For the Ghanaian leader, Africa can not build its future on the basis of Western support.
“We can not continue to make policies for ourselves, in our countries, in our regions, on our continent on the basis of the support that the West, France or the EU would like to give us. It will not work, it did not work yesterday and it will not work tomorrow, he began, stressing Africa’s responsibility to chart its own path. “
Moreover, according to Nana Akufo Ado, the time has come for Africa to rely on its assets, its strengths, in order to become a breeding ground of help not only for its people, but also for other parts of the world in difficulty.
(…) This continent, with all that happens is still the reservoir of at least 30% of the world’s most important minerals. It is the continent of vast fertile lands. This continent has the youngest population of any continent in the world. So there is enough energy, there is dynamism, it has already been noted, he explained, taking as an example Asian nations that have gained their autonomy.