Rawlings: Over-Reliance On Foreign Investment Makes Africa Vulnerable

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Ghana¹s former President, Flt Lt Jerry John Rawlings

Press Release

March 28, 2012

Ghana¹s former President and African Union High Representative for Somalia, Flt Lt Jerry John Rawlings, says the over-reliance on foreign investment by Africa had made it vulnerable to the dictates of the international community.

He said such vulnerability is often to the detriment of African unity and development.

In an address delivered at the 10th Anniversary colloquium of the New Partnership for Africa¹s Development (NEPAD) in Addis Ababa on Tuesday, President Rawlings said: ³While the West is boosting regional integration and supporting each other at a time of global financial crisis, we are still grappling with unifying our continent and protecting each other from global economic challenges.²

President Rawlings said a hugely resourced continent such as Africa should be able to give real stimulus to the African Union and its organs such as NEPAD to implement progressive initiatives that pursue a common African agenda of continental development.

The former President said one of the challenges facing the smooth implementation of NEPAD and other African initiatives is the abuse of leadership by elected officers.

³We can over the past decade lay claim to expanding democracy across the continent with multi-partyism flourishing. Electoral victory for some however, means a leadership of impunity², President Rawlings said.

Source: http://www.ghanaweb.com