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Dlamini-Zuma: Use the abundant resources to develop Africa
Dr Nkosazana Clarice Dlamini-Zuma, former Chairperson of the African Union Commission, has urged African leaders to utilize the abundant resources the continent is endowed with to the benefit of their people.
“In Europe, I don’t know how many days of sunshine they have, but here we have at least over 300 days of sunshine. We must take advantage of that. We have our rivers, we must use them. And we are blessed with the diversity of water and oil, which we must benefit from,” she noted.
Dlamini-Zuma was speaking on the topic “Why the world needs a Dynamic Africa and what role must each African Play to achieve this goal” at the BOMA of Africa event organized by AUDA-NEPAD and AfroChampions on the sidelines of the Africa Union’s Mid-Year Coordinating Meeting held in Accra last Saturday.
Under the theme “From the Africa We Want to the Africa We Build,” the 2024 edition of BOMA of Africa aimed at celebrating the radical ideas and actions driving Africa forward.
This festival of innovation and unity featured debates, discussions, and announcements of groundbreaking initiatives that exemplify the milestones of African integration and development.
Through focused discussions on health, wealth creation, development financing, and governance, BOMA 2024 aimed to ignite new momentum towards realising Africa’s continental aspirations. By spotlighting major projects and initiatives, the event aimed to foster a spirit of collaboration and determination.
In a world marked by geopolitical shifts, technological advancements, conflicts, and economic turbulence, Africa’s strategic blueprint, Agenda 2063, has become urgent and necessary. The BOMA of Africa serves as a high point for showcasing and celebrating strategic developments on this roadmap, providing a platform to mobilize support for peace, security, and development.
“Our minds and our trajectory to Agenda 2063 cannot be determined only by investors, otherwise, we are colonised. It must be determined by what we can do and what we want to do,” Dr. Dlamini-Zuma said.
According to her, “We need to build our own trains. We need to build our own cars. We need to build roads. Eventually, we should also be able to build our own lakes. Maybe not today. It’s a big elephant, one bite at a time, but we must get there.”
Key highlights at BOMA 2024 included the 2nd Sankore Lecture, the inaugural Sankore Awards, and showcasing transformative projects such as Energize Africa, the Programme for Infrastructure Development in Africa, and the Home-Grown Solutions Accelerator. These initiatives underscore commitment to advancing regional integration, socio-economic growth, and resilience across the continent.
A longstanding member of the African National Congress, who currently serves as Chancellor of the University of Limpopo, Dr. Dlamini-Zuma advised Africans to not let colonisation and slavery define them, but rather, remember their unique identity.
“Before we were colonised, we were a very dynamic continent and dynamic people. Even the Europeans themselves acknowledge that Africa was a dynamic continent,” she noted.
Dr. Dlamini-Zuma expressed disappointment and worry that Africa, with its huge youthful population, has become a supplier of labour to other parts of the world. She said Africans must travel out of choice and not out of desperation.
She encouraged African leaders to improve the conditions in their countries to prevent their citizens from travelling out of frustration and desperation.
“If they go somewhere else, it should be out of choice, not out of desperation, as it’s happening today. But also, I always get this complaint about how difficult it is around African countries,” she said.
AUDA-NEPAD and AfroChampions, alongside other strategic partners, have hosted the annual BOMA of Africa event during African Integration Week since 2019. This year’s BOMA was aligned with the AU Mid-Year Coordination Meeting, further cementing its significance on the continent’s commemorative calendar.
The Boma of Africa 2024 was held in Accra, Ghana on July 20, 2024 on the sidelines of the AU Mid-Year Coordinating Meeting.
This year’s theme, “From the Africa We Want to the Africa We Build” brought together distinguished leaders, strategists, and innovators to celebrate and assess the remarkable progress of Agenda 2063.
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ASWIM lauds Prof Naana Jane Opoku-Agyemang
The Association of Women in the Media, (ASWIM) has congratulated Professor Naana Jane Opoku-Agyemang on her historic achievement as Ghana’s first female Vice President.
The association said her trailblazing journey with sterling accomplishments from academia to politics, is undoubtedly, a vivid inspiration to countless women and girls across Ghana and Africa.
This was contained in a statement signed by its president, Mrs Mavis Kitcher, and copied to The Spectator on Tuesday in Accra.
“ASWIM celebrates your remarkable career, marked by numerous firsts, including the first female Vice-Chancellor of the University of Cape Coast, (UCC), and the first female to hold a professional chair in Ghana, (UCC),” the statement said.
It said the accomplishments of Prof Opoku- Agyemang were clear testament to the brilliance, resilience and resourceful nature of the complete beautiful African woman.
“As she takes on this new role, ASWIM proudly lauds her commitment to education, women’s empowerment, distinguished public service and patriotism and is very confident that her pursuit of excellence, love for humanity, humility, decency, modesty and commitment to the welfare of the vulnerable will characterise Ghana’s political leadership and public service,” the statement added.
By Jemima Esinam Kuatsinu
Entertainment
Demolition of Fantasy Dome unfair — Mark Okraku-Mantey
Months after the Fantasy Dome was dismantled to make way for construction at the Ghana International Trade Fair site, the Deputy Minister of Tourism, Arts and Culture, Mr Mark Okraku-Mantey, has expressed concern over the manner the facility was destroyed.
In an interview on Daybreak Hitz with Andy Dosty, Mr Okraku-Mantey criticised the handling of the dome’s dismantling, suggesting that it could have been done without causing damage.
“I don’t think that leadership gave instructions that they should do what happened. The structure was a prefab but I hear the people destroyed it. That one, we cannot defend it. It is unfair to him (owner). Sometimes, you give instructions and people will go and do things that will make you look bad,” he stated.
When asked about any punitive measure against the workers responsible for the destruction, Mr Okraku-Mantey clarified that the Trade Fair does not fall under his ministry.
He said he had previously contacted the owner, Leslie Quaynor, to discuss relocating the dome, and even suggested the National Museum as a potential site, though it was too small.
The demolition of the 20,000-seater Fantasy Dome occurred on March 16, 2024.
According to Dr Agnes Adu, CEO of the Ghana Trade Fair Company Limited, the action was taken after multiple notices were given to Quaynor to vacate the premises for redevelopment, as per their tenancy agreement.
Dr Adu noted that all previous tenants had complied except for the Fantasy Dome.
Quaynor, in an interview with JoyNews, confirmed that his lease had ended, and was in the process of relocating the dome.
He had requested an extension, which was denied, leading him to seek a writ and an injunction from an Accra High Court to halt the demolition.
Despite this, the demolition proceeded, causing significant damage to the structure.
Quaynor described the incident as a major setback, not only for his business but also for the entertainment industry, which relies on venues like the Fantasy Dome.
