Shehu Sani, a former Nigerian senator, has responded to President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo‘s recent advice to African leaders to refrain from begging from the West.
Sani compared Ghana’s current economic engagements with the International Monetary Fund (IMF) to Akufo-Addo’s advice and pointed out what he believes is hypocrisy on President Akufo-Addo’s part.
In a December 14 tweet, he concluded that Akufo-Addo was using one hand to accept IMF assistance while cautioning his peers.
“Ghana’s President is collecting IMF loan with the right hand and using the left hand to warn African Governments against begging the west for money,” the tweet read.
Akufo-Addo called on African countries to cut off begging from the West to earn global respect and move away from old-aged perceptions of the continent.
Delivering remarks at the ongoing US-Africa Leaders’ Summit in Washington DC, President Akufo-Addo extolled Africa’s skills and manpower which he believes can bring significant change when well harnessed.
Ghana’s President is collecting IMF loan with the right hand and using the left hand to warn African Governments against begging the west for money.
— Senator Shehu Sani (@ShehuSani) December 14, 2022
“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,” President Akufo-Addo is quoted by BBC.com.
“Africans are more resilient outside the continent than inside. We must bear in mind that to the outside world, [there’s] nothing like Nigeria, Ghana or Kenya, we are simply Africans. Our destiny as people depends on each other,” he added.
President Akufo-Addo’s remarks come after Ghana on December 13, 2022, secured a Staff-Level Agreement with the International Monetary Fund for US$3 billion under an Extended Credit Facility (ECF).
Source: Ghanaweb