Woo Africans in the diaspora to the continent

The Attah Mills Foundation, a pro-democracy non-governmental organization (NGO), has implored African leaders to strive to uphold rule of law, good governance and democratic principles. It said this was necessary if the continent was to create an enabling environment for investment in Africa especially by Africans living in the diaspora as well as the Western World.

These were contained in a statement signed by Togbui Mawufeame Fugah, Life Patron of the Foundation, and issued in Kumasi on Saturday. It lamented the high rate of illiteracy, tribal conflicts, poverty and poor infrastructural developments that had impeded the development of most African countries over the years.

The statement said African leaders could woo investors to come and do business on the continent if they appreciated democracy and deepen its structures and institutions.

It decried the continuous dependence of Africa on the international community and donor agencies for survival.

The statement said that Africans should take inspiration from the recent speech delivered by US President Barack Obama when he visited Ghana and the leaders should critically look at where the fall short with the view to making amends for the benefit of the masses.

It described President Obama as God-sent to the continent and urged African leaders to build libraries in their respective countries in honour of Obama to motivate the youth to strive for excellence in whatever they do in spite of the varied challenges facing them. The statement urged Ghanaians to use the US President's visit as a chance to re-write the nation's history by avoiding tribalism, intolerance, abusive utterances and the blame-game for the sustainable utilization of state resources to benefit of the people.

It wished President Obama well in his endeavours and urged religious and traditional leaders to impress upon their people to continually pray for the first African-American US President to enable him to succeed in his presidential duties.