TheCable

John Mahama and Ian Khama, former presidents of Ghana and Botswana respectively, have asked African leaders to pursue unity and progress for economic prosperity.

They made the call on Saturday, while speaking on a panel at the second edition of the African Heritage Awards which held at the Marriott Hotel Ikeja, Lagos. 

The awards celebrate influential African innovators driving the continent to greatness.

The third edition of the ceremony is expected to hold in 2025, in Marrakesh, Morocco.

Mahama noted that with the growth of Africa’s youthful population, leaders must “move in a fast pace” to provide citizens with the dividends of democracy needed for self-reliance.

He added that there is an urgent need for African countries to foster international cooperation by removing certain encumbrances like visa restrictions slowing down economic prosperity across the continent.

“There’s more money leaving the African continent than money coming in. All the loans, donations and grants take more monies out of Africa than what comes in. In Africa, we should not need a visa to travel from Ethiopia to Ghana,” Mahama said.

On his part, Khama said corruption and bad leadership on the continent has hindered Africa from transiting into economic prosperity, despite its abundant human and natural resources.

He blamed the backwardness in Africa on politicians who “fail to put the interest and need of their people first”.

According to him, Africa needs leaders who realise they were chosen to serve the people.

“My observation is that those politicians who fail to put the interests and needs of their people first are a cause for backwardness,” Khama said.

“We need leaders who are humble enough to understand that their role is simply to be of service to their people. The media has for the longest time peddled only a negative narrative about the African continent and we all have a responsibility to change that.

“We will continue to support you as this is an important undertaking that we should all promote. Let me therefore urge sponsors to get on board so that we grow the AfriHeritage awards and African excellence.”