The Africa Bar Association has conferred a Medal of Merit in Leadership Award on President Akufo-Addo.
The Award, according to the President of the Association, Hannibal Egbe Uwaifo, was conferred on President Akufo-Addo because he is “a pan Africanist, Anti-Corruption Crusader, a rare democratic leader in the field of good governance, a true African Statesman whose legacies present African leaders must emulate”.
Speaking at its 2023 Annual Conference of the African Bar Association in Pretoria, South Africa, and expressing his gratitude to the association, President Akufo-Addo stated that the legal profession has a rarefied position in African societies, and lawyers are assured of a special status.
“In all our countries, it must be a source of pride for us that lawyers were in the forefront of the fight for liberation from colonialism. Indeed, since independence, lawyers have moved seamlessly between politics and the legal profession.”
President Akufo-Addo.
With Africa having been unable to translate all her abundant natural advantages into building successful states, the President highlighted that the time is long overdue for Africa and Africans to define her own narrative. He explained that Africa must be defined by “what we see in ourselves, and not what others choose to say about us”.
“However, this cannot happen if we do not trade amongst ourselves. Africa accounts for only 3% of global trade, and intra-African trade is one of the lowest of any region globally. This is largely due to the ‘colonial’ economic model characterized by small individual economies, fragmented and disconnected regional markets, over-reliance on the production and export of primary commodities, and the presence of low productive capacities, which have been in existence for the last century.”
President Akufo-Addo.
Furthermore, President Akufo-Addo noted that the emergence of the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA), in which trading began on 1st January 2021, and whose Secretariat Ghana is privileged to host, represents a historic opportunity for Africa to strengthen immeasurably, intra-African trade as a powerful avenue for developing its vast economic and material potential.
This, he explained, positions Africa as potentially, an attractive investment destination, noting that “with the relevant investment, we will be able to sustain economic growth, and create the job opportunities that the youth of our continent so desperately need”.
“As the adage goes, there is strength in unity, and, for all 54 Member States of the African Union, our strength lies with our numbers. Cumulatively, we have a population of 1.3 billion, the majority of whom are young people, and we are in possession of a collective GDP of three trillion United States dollars, making us, collectively, the eight largest economy in the world.”
President Akufo-Addo
AfCFTA, a gamechanger on the African continent
Describing the AfCFTA as a major gamechanger, the President indicated that once fully realized, African countries can increase intra-Africa trade by US$ 35 billion and reduce external imports by US$ 10 billion yearly.
This, he revealed, will mean more opportunities for growth for small businesses, and the potential to lift some 30 million people out of extreme poverty.
“Additionally, a successful AfCFTA will mean that Africa’s industrial exports will be diversified, thus moving away from undue reliance on extractive commodities and foreign imports.”
President Akufo-Addo
These benefits to be sought from the AfCFTA, President Akufo-Addo explained, will however, not be reaped in an atmosphere of chaos and insecurity. He indicated that those in West Africa are currently preoccupied with the need to free the region from the terrorist insurgency that has engulfed Mali, Burkina Faso, parts of Niger and Nigeria, and is threatening the peace and stability of the coastal nations.
“It is incumbent that, in our generation, we all stand together to defeat this menace, and guarantee the peace and stability, which are essential to the rapid economic development not only of West Africa, but also of the entire continent – the surest way to banish poverty in our time. In the same vein, we must reiterate our commitment to democratic governance, and reject all unconstitutional changes of government.”
President Akufo-Addo
Moreover, President Akufo-Addo expressed that for the vision of forebears who fought the liberation of the continent from colonialism and imperialism, the AfCFTA has set the stage for Africa’s industrialization and transformation. He emphasized that what is required now is for respective governments and businesses to show bold leadership.
