Former President John Agyekum Kufuor returned home Thursday from Malabo, Equatorial Guinea, where he chaired the Ninth Summit of the Leon Sullivan Foundation attended by about 400 delegates from Africa and people of African descent in the diaspora.
The four-day meeting was held under the theme, 'Africa Rising."
A release signed by Frank Agyekum, spokesperson and special aide to Former President Kufuor, and copied to the Ghana News Agency in Accra said Equatorial Guinean President Obiang Nguema Mbasago, opened the Summit attended by President Yayi Boni of Benin and Chairman of the African Union, President Ernest Bailey Koromah of Sierra Leone, General Olusegun Obasanjo, Former President of Nigeria, and Dr Mohammed Ibn Chambas, Executive Secretary of the African- Caribbean - Pacific Organization, among other dignatories.
Former President Kufuor who is a member of the Board of Governors of the Foundation, said Africa could only claim the 21st century if it built the capacity of its people to enable them to exploit the immense resources on the continent to their advantage and compete successfully on the global market.
"In this regard, the undoubted expertise and know-how of our brothers and sisters in the diaspora will be of much help. The passion you have shown and your commitment to the motherland in your speeches and personal interactions have been amazing.
"I urge you to let this translate into practical ways by which those of us you are already uniting with can benefit from what you have gained," Former President said.
He asked African governments to trumpet their achievements in order to help dispel the negativity portrayed about them internationally.
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