Former President John Agyekum Kufuor on Thursday asked African leaders to give more space for the youth in political and social discourse to enable them to fully exploit their potentials for the good of society.
Former President Kufuor said the youth in Africa share the aspirations of their counterparts across the world.
‘They want the good life: good education, good jobs, good homes, upward mobility in society and prosperity. And they want to enjoy all these in a regime of freedom where they are able to fully exploit their God-given talents without intimidation or harassment.
‘The difference between the African youth and those in developed countries is that while numerous avenues exist for those in the developed world to realize their dreams, in many African countries the opportunities are very limited and therefore many a good idea goes unrealized.’
Africa needs to change this in order to gain the full benefit of its vibrant and very capable youth, former President Kufuor said this while speaking at a symposium at the Academy Hall in Berlin, Germany to mark the 70th birthday anniversary of former German President Horst Kohler.
Former President Kufuor described former President Kohler “as a good man whose love for the good humanity was fully exhibited during his time as Managing Director of the International Monetary Fund (IMF) and as President of his country.”
He recalled former President Kohler’s support to his government in the adoption of the Highly Poor and Indebted Country programme, which saw a huge proportion of Ghana’s debts being cancelled by its bilateral creditors.
‘President Kohler must share with us the successful completion of the programme in record time as our government kept to strict economic schedule and the IMF kept its promise,’ former President Kufuor said.
Former President Kufuor arrived in that country last Thursday, 7th March 2013 and leaves for Brussels, Belgium and Paris, France, Saturday, 9th March 2013 on an advocacy tour for the Global Network of Neglected Tropical Diseases of which he is Chairman.
He will meet ministers of state and policy makers in the two countries to drum up more financial support for and the prioritizing of the NTDs in their budgeting to help eradicate them.
Former President Kufuor returns home on Friday, 15th March 2013.
Frank Agyekum
Spokesperson/Special Aide