The President of the African Development Bank (AfDB) Dr Akinwumi A. Adesina, has called for fair access to Covid-19 vaccines for Africans and said debt relief would help African economies recover faster and better from the pandemic.
Speaking on 8 February at a virtual event held in his honour as the outgoing African of the Year of African Leadership Magazine, the Bank President warned that so long as the coronavirus was unchecked in any part of the world, no one would be safe.
“There is light at the end of the tunnel – it just happens to be a very long tunnel. I am very positive that African economies will bounce back over the next two years, but the speed of recovery will depend on ensuring that Africa gets enough vaccines for its population,” Adesina said.
“The world must not short-change Africa on access to vaccines,” he added.
He also said significant debt relief would be key to accelerating African economies’ recovery from the Covid-19 crisis.
“To recover faster, Africa will need significant debt forgiveness from bilateral and official creditors,” he said during the virtual event attended by Douye Diri, the Governor of the Nigerian state of Bayelsa, and Benoy Berry, Chairman of Contec Global Worldwide.
Adesina added: “While developed countries have been spending trillions of dollars for fiscal stimulus, Africa does not have such resources. The payment for vaccines is already adding to the already high debt burden.”
A highlight of the conversation was Adesina’s induction into the magazine’s African Leadership Hall of Fame for “raising the performance bar” in Africa.
African Leadership Magazine Chairman Ken Giami said the African Development Bank had scored some outstanding achievements in 2020 under President Adesina and had “infected” Africa with optimism.
Giami said, “ALM feels very proud of the President’s contribution as he has raised the performance bar for future African of the Year winners. Indeed, his award was a call for greater service to the people, especially at a time when Africa needed true leadership.”
Adesina vowed that the African Development Bank, in collaboration with its partners, would continue to lead Africa’s recovery and development after the pandemic, with a focus on youth, women and healthcare.
“Together, we will create new opportunities for African youth and trigger a youth-based wealth system for Africa. Together, we will ensure that we deliver financing for African women,” he said in his concluding remarks.
He stressed: “Together, we will support Africa to build world-class, quality healthcare infrastructure while ensuring also that the continent builds its pharmaceutical and vaccine industrial production.”
African leaders who have previously won the African Leadership Magazine African of the Year award include former Liberian President and Nobel Peace Prize winner Ellen Johnson Sirleaf (2011); Sudanese businessman Mo Ibrahim (2012); former Vice President of Nigeria Atiku Abubakar (2013); former President of Tanzania Jakaya Kikwete (2014); Tanzanian businessman and philanthropist Mo Dewji (2016); and President of Rwanda, Paul Kagame (2017).
Latest Stories
-
Samson’s Take: Journalists, block the pretentious idiots
38 mins -
Real Madrid crowned LaLiga champions after Barcelona’s defeat at Girona
1 hour -
Daniel Otting Awuah elected SRC President of Ghana School of Law
2 hours -
Lawrence Ati-Zigi signs St. Gallen contract extension
2 hours -
We should be careful not to destroy our institutions without just cause – Serebour Quaicoe
2 hours -
Cecilia Dapaah’s case: EOCO hasn’t requested for FBI report – Office of the Special Prosecutor
4 hours -
Andre Ayew scores 5th league goal as Le Havre beat Strasbourg
4 hours -
Ejisu by-election: NPP didn’t sanction money distribution to voters – Richard Ahiagbah
5 hours -
Ghana Health Service opens vacancies for 204 doctors, 25 dentists
5 hours -
Domestic tourism on the rebound with 1.4m visits to attraction sites in 2023 – GTA
6 hours -
Government working hard to complete Tema General Hospital project – Dr Okoe Boye
6 hours -
Ipswich Town seal Premier League promotion after 22 years absence
6 hours -
Accord journalists the respect due them – Opare Gyan
6 hours -
EPL: Arsenal beat Bournemouth to go four points clear of Man City
6 hours -
Cecilia Dapaah’s case: What’s happening now is a clear indication of cover-up – Amaliba
6 hours