President John Mahama has returned from South Africa with a call on Africa leaders to turn their attention to a vigorous fight against poverty and create prosperity for all, now that Nelson Mandela, one of the leading figures in the fight for Africa's liberation, is dead.

"Everybody knows the stature of Mandela together with the great Africans [like] Nkrumah, Nyerere and all the others, who fought for African liberation. With Mandela's passing, that era of Africa liberation is literally over. The next challenge that faces the continent is how to promote economic development and create jobs for young people," President Mahama said on his return from the Memorial Service of the late South African president, Nelson Mandela.

Several world leaders including US president, Barack Obama, British Prime Minister, David Cameron and former UN Secretary General, Kofi Annan were in South Africa to pay their last respect to the man, who ended the oppressive system of Apartheid in South Africa.

Touting the leadership credentials and selflessness of the freedom fighter, the president said Nelson Mandela was a unifier, who declined an overwhelming appeal to serve another term in office and handed over power to his Vice- Thabo Mbeki.

"The legacy and lesson he leaves is that everybody comes, does his bit and leaves it to the next generation to continue. Nobody has a divine right to rule", President Mahama asserted.

Answering a question on how the death of Mandela brought many World leaders together, even including sworn enemies, the president said even in life, Mandela had a knack of uniting people so in death it is not unusual that we saw President Obama shake hands with Raul Castro of Cuba.

That was sensational, he noted, praying that will signal a new era and hopefully lead to the lifting of the blockade.

President John Mahama was hopeful recent visit to Ghana by South African President, Jacob Zuma, will deepen bilateral relations between the two countries.