The 21st Century is For Africa - President Akufo Addo Declares

President of the republic, Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo Addo has declared that the 21st Century is for Africa and none other, emphasizing that African countries can claim it if we believe in ourselves.

Delivering a keynote address at a lecture organized by the Kukah Centre at the Yar'adua Conference Centre in Wuse, Abuja, under the theme "How to Make Democracy Work for Africa", President Akufo Addo said he "believes that stable democracies in Africa can help unleash energies to drive the transformation of the continent. There is a lot of talk that this will be the Asian century, the Chinese century - but take it from me, the 21st century holds excellent prospects for Africa. This can be Africa’s century. We can claim it, if we believe in ourselves".

What is the Current African Situation Now?

President Akufo Addo observed that "there was a time in Africa when most countries were one-party states and everybody had to belong to that party. Some decades ago, all the radio and television stations and newspapers were exclusively owned by the government". The President further stated that "If you wanted to hear any voice in opposition, you would probably have to tune in to a foreign radio station, like the BBC. Most of our youth are unaware that a culture of silence used to reign in most parts of the continent".

"We are not quite there yet", the President said, but "there is far more self-confidence among Africans today, than there has been since the very early days of self-government." He stated further that,"Freedom and the principles of democratic accountability are strengthening the determination of Africans to build a new Africa, that is neither pawn nor victim of the world order". These happenings on the continent, he believes, marks the current state of Africa and it presents the best opportunity for the continent to develop it's democracy. 

The Place of the Youth In The Democratic System of Governance 

President Akufo Addo intimated that the greatest challenge for Ghana and for the entire African continent, remains the creation of sustainable jobs. "Our young people must see and feel the dividends of the democratic system of governance. In the one year that I have had the privilege of leading my country, I have tried to be honest with the people of Ghana. We are nowhere near where we should be and where we all want to be, but there is a feeling we are all in this together and we shall get out and prosper together", the President said. He called on the continent to make an honest assessment of itself and its situation if it's to take advantage of the democratic wind blowing across the nations of Africa. "I wonder, whatever happened to the peer review mechanism? There might be 54 countries and we might resent being lumped together for the wrong reasons, but there are ties that bind us together as Africans. We have good reasons to be proud of who we are, and the beautiful continent that is ours," the President stated.

Observation of the Nigerian Vice President

Vice President, Federal Republic of Nigeria, Professor Yemi Osinbajo, delivering the Special Guest of Honour address at the same event, emphasized that the Keynote Speaker, President Akufo Addo, is the best choice to speak on the theme for the public lecture. He observed that ensuring security of the states of Africa is perhaps the greatest threat to the democratization drive taking place on the continent. He urged African leaders to give greater attention to the empowerment of security institutions within their respective countries in order to strengthen their capacity to secure the territorial integrity of the nations of the continent.. 

The Kukah Centre

The Kukah Centre (TKC) is a Nigerian-based policy research institute, founded by Most Rev. Matthew Hassan Kukah, Bishop of the Catholic Diocese of Sokoto. The Centre has offices in Abuja and Kaduna and treats political leadership as a collaborative exercise that requires multiple governance structures at various levels – individuals, households, small businesses, the organized private sector, NGOs and government.

Interfaith dialogue is at the core of the Centre’s work and involves actively promoting conversations among Nigeria’s faith communities, as well as between leaders in faith and public policy. The Kukah Centre aspires to become Nigeria’s leading institution for the promotion of an active and engaged citizenry by providing support for inclusive dialogue and advocacy initiatives.