News Desk Report
The former United Nations Secretary General, Dr. Kofi Annan has stated that the lack of political will by African leaders to implement good policies was harmful to the continent’s development.
He said that most of Africa’s challenges persisted not because of a lack of knowledge, plans or technical solutions but the lack of political will.
According to him, a new sense of urgency was needed among African leaders to implement the long discussed transformation of the continent.
Dr. Annan, who is the Chairman of the Africa Progress Panel, made these remarks at the closing ceremony of the 52nd Annual Meeting of the African Development Bank Group (AfDB) Board of Governors.
Dr. Annan, who could not make the trip to India, said in a video recording that, contrary to the perception that the continent was under-developed, Africa “is not poor but a wealthy continent”.
He said that the African Continent needs an economic transformation that harnesses growth for many rather than the benefit of few.
He was of the view that civil society and the private sector need to challenge leaders to live up to Africa’s potential with the private sector playing a leading role in Africa’s transformation.
He noted that the transformation could only be achieved if governments implement the right regulatory framework and an enabling environment.
