The Queen mother of ECOWAS nationals working and living in Ivory Coast, Nana Kyeremaa Abrafi-Koto, has challenged African leaders to work towards making the unity of the African continent a priority.

According to the Queen Mother, African leaders have the best of opportunity to use culture to speed up the promotion of unity, peace, stability and harmony on the continent.

Addressing a durbar of chiefs and people to climax this year's ECOWAS Festival dubbed 'FENA 2023', the Queen Mother appealed to African governments to make the four-decade unity campaign waged by many Pan Africanists as an uncompromising agenda.

"The campaign to unite Africa obviously must be supported by all nationals of the continent" she said.

The Queen Mother noted that there cannot be collective development of Africans without unity, and that integration remained critical for building bridges and speeding up the process of development in Africa.

Nana Kyeremaa Abrafi-Koto, who gained the ECOWAS Queen Mothership in Ivory Coast through her social activities, observed that culture remains a major toll for achieving the much desired African unity.

She lauded the various African Embassies in Ivory Coast for backing her up to influence the establishment of this unique festival.

She also praised the administration of Alassane Dramane Ouattara, President of Ivory Coast for creating an enabling environment for foreigners to stay and work in Ivory Coast.

The Minister of State, Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development in Ivory Country, Kobenan Kouassi Adjoumani, who represented Patrick Jérôme Achi, the Prime Minister of Ivory Coast at the festival, lauded the Queen Mother for brilliantly initiating the festival to bring together nationals of the continent to celebrate on one stage and to take stock of activities commemorating African unity.

He applauded the Queen Mother for identifying herself with the Ivorian government and for working to promote culture, development and tourism.

He said the Ivorian government recognizes her singular effort and would support her in various ways to continue to play a crucial role in influencing the unity and progress of Africa.

The Prime Minister of Ivory Coast, Patrick Jérôme Achi, and President of Ivory Coast, Alassane Dramane Ouattara were all happy with the positive impact Nana Kyeremaa Abrafi-Koto was making in Ivory Coast and Africa in general.