Vote leaders committed to bring change for Africa's prosperity-Dr Chihombori-Quao
A former African Union Ambassador of the United States, Dr Arikana Chihombori-Quao, has urged Africa's youth to vote for leaders who are committed to right the wrong global system to accelerate Africa's development.
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She stated that African leaders who were not ready to take firm decisions to right the wrongs of global arrangements for accelerated socio-economic growth of the continent should be voted out.
"To our youth, I say once again, if your leadership is misusing your natural resources, replace them. If your leadership is not representing you well on the world stage, replace them," she said.
Speaking on the second day of a two-day 14th Kwame Nkrumah memorial lectures and special congregation at the University of Cape Coast (UCC), Dr Chihombori-Quao said enough of the inaction which had kept Africa in perpetual underdevelopment , adding that the youth must demand accountability from their leaders.
The lecture was on the theme: “African Youth Rising-The revolution has begun”.
It was attended by academicians, diplomats, the clergy, traditional authority, students and members of the public.
Ms Chihombori-Quao, a pan-Africanist, was awarded the honorary doctorate of letters degree (honoris causa) at the ceremony which also served as a special congregation.
She said the actions and inaction of African leaders had left Africa deprived of its resources, almost humiliated by the world's powers and left its citizens, particularly the youth, in a cycle of deprivation.
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Enough is enough
Dr Chihombori-Quao said enough was enough, saying it was time to redeem Africa and set it on the path of development.
She traced the conscious machinations of the Western powers to exploit African resources and keep them in poverty.
She said the African was found to be biologically endowed with dominant genes adding that the African youth deserved better and they should not settle for anything less.
"Our youth are hurting, our youth are suffering, our youth are tired. They just want us to make the right decisions in those positions that we hold. Our youth deserve better," she stated.
Abuse and exploitation must stop
Ms Arikana Chihombori-Quao said the abuse and exploitation of Africans and the continent must stop.
She said from the Berlin Conference of 1884 to colonisation, the pact for the continuation of colonisation signed by some African countries and the work of the Bretton Wood institutions and some non-governmental organisations, the Western powers had systematically worked to put Africans down, first by working on their minds for them to believe everything African was evil.
She said such institutions like the World Bank, the embassies and "charitable organisations" continue to perpetuate systems that hurt the African countries saying it was time for the youth to rise and demand fairness and justice.
He said the revolution that the pan-African fathers began must be completed adding that exploiting of Africa must not be allowed to continue.
She said the west knew that an informed and liberated Africa was dangerous to the Western world saying to what "extent are we going to be stupid."
Gender parity Ms Chihombori-Quao said was a must urging women to find their seats at the table saying women had a responsibility to the youth and even men to ensure Africa was set on the path of development.
Teach Nkrumah's books
She recommended that Kwame Nkrumah books be part of the curriculum of the university to build a consciousness in them.
The Chancellor of UCC, Sir Sam Esoun Jonah, for his part, said the leaders and elders of Africa had led the youth down because of their actions and inaction and severally apologised to the youth.
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Vast natural resources
He said the continent with its vast natural resources had no excuse to wallow in poverty and stressed that the deficit of leadership at every level, and the small-mindedness displayed at different levels were worrying ,and added that it was time to acknowledge those and work to change the narrative.
He acknowledged the immense role of Dr Kwame Nkrumah, Ghana's first president, and his role in pan Africanism, and urged all, particularly the youth, to be wary of indirect colonial rule.
The Vice- Chancellor of UCC, Prof Johnson Nyarko Boampong, said the lectures were instituted in 1974 and inaugurated in 1976 to honour Dr Kwame Nkrumah and to address the socio-economic and political development of Africa and the black world in general.
Earlier on Monday, Dr Chihombori-Quao spoke on Imperialism, Colonialism and Neo-Colonialism-The Three Axis of Evil against Africa, urging everyone to call the enemy of African progress by name and deal with it from all angles.
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She said the West was using several means to siphon Africa's wealth, and further advised the youth to reorient their minds and fight such systems.