President John Mahama says African countries must begin adding value to their raw materials to create more jobs for the continent’s youth.

The President said this Sunday when he addressed the Sustainable Development Summit 2015 at the United Nations in New York.

“The path to sustainable development for my country Ghana, and many other African countries, has been a difficult one. We are still the main producers of primary commodities while secondary and tertiary processing are done in the developed worlds and finished goods are exported back to us,” he told world leaders at the summit.

He stressed the need for Europe and other developed countries to assist with relocating more companies to Africa if the world is really committed to end the tide of young Africans seeking work in developed countries.

“If the teeming youth of Africa must find jobs at home and stop attempting the dangerous crossing of the Mediterranean to enter the greener pastures of Europe, then we must review the role Africa plays in world production,” President said.

He said it is has become imperative for processing and value addition of goods to relocate to Africa.

The summit on Friday approved the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) to replace the Millennium Development Goals or MDGs.

The new Sustainable Development Goals agreed by UN Member States will seek to end poverty, while also taking into account environmental issues.