Africa to shed image of beggars living on charity and handouts - Akufo-Addo

President Nana Akufo-Addo has said Africa, as a continent, has to be “self-reliant and shed the image of beggars living on charity, aid and handouts” as well as “make better and more intelligent use of our abundant natural resources, in order to pull ourselves out of poverty and attain prosperity.”

The Ghanaian leader made the comment at the Lisbon City Council, where he was given the keys to the city by deputy mayor Filipe Anacoreta Correia.

Mr AKufo-Addo, who is on a three-day official visit to Portugal, stated that history holds ample lessons that show “that a rich trading partner, operating within a fair trading system, brings prosperity to both sides, far more than the exploitation of a poor partner.”

It is for this reason, he noted, that “I have come to Lisbon to advocate increased investment and trade between our two nations. Trade relations between Ghana and Portugal have evolved through history, and it is clear that a new paradigm has to be defined, which will be dependent on the structural transformation of the Ghanaian economy from a raw material producing and exporting economy, to a value-adding, industrialising economy.”

Mr Akufo-Addo expressed confidence that “this will enable Ghana trade at the high end of the global value chain, dealing in products we make and grow.

“Out of this, a robust trading system between Portugal and Ghana will be created, which will generate mutual prosperity for the peoples of the two countries”, he said.

Mr Akufo-Addo and his Portuguese counterpart, Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa, also signed bilateral instruments of cooperation in the areas of defence, political consultation and trade between the two countries.

This latest form of engagement, President Akufo-Addo said, would go a long way to strengthen the ties of friendship and the bonds of co-operation between Ghana and Portugal.

Speaking at a joint press conference with President Marcelo Rebelo De Sousa on Tuesday, 18 July 2023, in Lisbon, the president stated that the move is borne out of a decision by Ghana “to turn our back on our old economy, which has been dependent on the production and export of raw materials, and also dependent on aid.”

According to President Akufo-Addo, “we want to build a value-added, industrialised economy with a modernised agriculture, which is neither victim nor pawn of the world economic order. We want our relations with Portugal and, indeed, the rest of the world, to be characterised by an increase in trade and investment co-operation.”

He added that “this is the way to develop healthy relations between our two countries, and put Ghana at the high end of the value chain in the global marketplace, and create jobs for the teeming masses of Ghanaians, particularly the youth.”

These observations, he stated, were based on the fact that, “we, in Africa, are agreed that we have to be self-reliant, and shed the image of beggars living on charity, aid and handouts, and make better and more intelligent use of our abundant natural resources, in order to pull ourselves out of poverty and attain prosperity.”

He pointed out that, the discussions also focused on boosting further political, cultural, people-to-people exchanges and cooperation at the multilateral level and on the need to promote a better world by addressing global issues relating to the attainment of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

Towards this end, “we have noted with satisfaction the value that the Ghana-Portugal Business Forum scheduled to be held tomorrow will add to our investment initiatives, he said.”

President Akufo-Addo further disclosed that, the President of Portugal has also “resolved to give voice to Ghana’s cause and interests within the European Union. We, on the other hand, will also help to facilitate the provision of a platform for enhanced economic engagement between Portugal and the member countries of ECOWAS. This should boost the trade volumes, and help bring prosperity to our peoples.”

On global security, he stated that, with President Joe Biden of the United States of America and President Emmanuel Macron of the French Republic calling publicly for reforms at the UN Security Council in line with the Ezulwini consensus, they look forward to the leaders of the three (3) other Permanent Members also throwing their support behind the reform process.

He assured President De Sousa that Ghana will “collaborate with Portugal to find solutions to challenges such as the eradication of widespread poverty, elimination of irregular migration, insecurity and human rights violations, terrorism and violent extremism, human and drug trafficking, piracy, as well as climate change and its attendant, negative impact on the environment and livelihoods.”