Ghanaian President Nana Akufo-Addo has called on president Muhammadu Buhari and other African leaders to stop begging for loans from the West so that the continent can earn global respect.

Mr Akufo-Addo made this known during his opening remarks of the ongoing US-African Leaders Summit in Washington on Tuesday.

He said, “If we stop being beggars and spend African money inside the continent, Africa will not need to ask for respect from anyone, we will get the respect we deserve. If we make it prosperous as it should be, respect will follow.

According to him, “Africans are more resilient outside the continent than inside. We must bear in mind that to the outside world, nothing like Nigeria, Ghana or Kenya: we are simply Africans. Our destiny as people depends on each other,” the Ghanaian president explained.

Mr Akufo-Addo urged African leaders to make the continent attractive to its people by providing quality education and skills that fuel the modern economy.

“We must work together to change Africa’s narrative, which is characterised by disease, hunger, poverty and illegal migration. No matter where you come from, as long as you are black, you are African. We must make Africa conducive for progress and prosperity,” the Ghanaian leader declared, insisting that the time to make change is now as the leaders of the African continent have run out of excuses.

“We have the manpower. We should have the political will. It is time to make Africa work. If we stop begging and spend Africa’s money inside the continent, Africa will not need to ask for respect from anyone. We will get the respect we deserve,” he added. “If we make it prosperous as it should be, respect will follow.” NAN