A UK-based think-tank, Council for Afrika International, is challenging African leaders to work towards the rapid economic development of their countries and the continent. “The Council for Afrika International urges Africa’s ruling elite to utilise the privilege of leadership and trust imposed in them by the key stakeholding majority of African peoples (electorate and non-voting age youth) to add value to the Africa liberation process by manifesting rapid economic advancement that demonstrably makes poverty history in Africa and significantly uplifts the standard of life of Africans and restore fundamental human and global citizenship rights.” These were contained in a statement issued to the Ghana News Agency in Accra and signed by Dr. Koku Adomdza, President of Council for Africa, in connection with Africa’s commemoration of more than five decades of African Republicanism. The statement said the continent had seen centuries of the most grotesque and dehumanising foreign imperialist aggression, brutality and crimes against the African people, punctuated by cartel slavery, colonialism, apartheid and economic exploitation. However, rather than deliver collective comprehensive liberation for all Africans, the ruling elite have adopted and instituted dependency mindsets and paradigms, it alleged. “What should have therefore been a Golden Jubilee celebration of Africa’s total liberation – politically, economically, culturally, scientifically, industrially and militarily - turned into an African Continent firmly back in the grips of hostile, manipulating and subversive foreign interests today.” The statement quoted Dr. Adomdza as saying, “To fulfil their generational responsibilities of leadership, and making meaning of the declaration of Africa’s political decolonisation and proclamation of republican status, carrying on as before is no option. “Progressive Patriotic Africanist change is the answer. Conscientious Africanism and patriotic africanist leadership with guts, boldness, effrontery and unflinching courage that unmake the neo-colonialist agenda of imperialism, divide and rule via imposed nation states and delivers a United African Continent is the way forward to attain the vision of collective prosperity by the brave and selfless pioneers of holistic African liberation.” The Council called for nothing less than African Unity and the launching of an all-out 21st Century African economic independence and liberation revolution. “This means a moratorium on purposeless lavish state celebrations until the battle for total African Liberation is won,” the Council said. Source: GNA