Equatorial
Guinea’s President closes Sullivan Summit with reminder that Africans are best
qualified to resolve African problems.
President Obiang Nguema
Mbasogo of Equatorial
Guinea closed the fourth day of the Leon H. Sullivan Foundation Summit with
an assertive call for western nations to respect African decisions and allow
Africans to resolve their own problems and engineer their own development.
The fourth day
of the conference, held at the Sipopo
Conference Center in Malabo, focused on African governance.
“Ten years ago, Equatorial Guinea was ranked amongst the
poorest of the African countries; today it is ranked very high amongst us,”
said John
Kufuor, former President of Ghana. “The country is making strives in all
areas, Equatorial Guinea is a country rapidly evolving.”
In his closing address, President Obiang Nguema
Mbasogo said, “Africa has begun its revival, and it is centered on the
development of the continent. Africa has taken control of its own resources,
which helps our countries move forward.”
President
Obiang stressed that during the last three decades, Equatorial Guinea has been
experiencing a complete transformation, going “from a dictatorship to a
democratic country, where we have improved the country’s socio-economic,
cultural and political sectors.”
“Equatorial Guinea has established a government based on what
works in Equatorial Guinea, based on Africa and not on what works for the
western world. Europe accuses us of having acquired ill-gotten gains, but when
they acquired our resources, those were the ill-gotten gains.”
“We continue to work toward institutional reforms and
democracy to reach the goals of the Horizon 2020 development plan and move
closer to an emergent economy,” said President Obiang.
In his closing remarks, President Obiang urged the Leon H.
Sullivan Foundation to focus on creating new structures to harness the renewed
energy of Africa and African descents.
The last day of the Sullivan Summit held an afternoon
session, where a dynamic group of renowned women, including Anastasia Nsang Nse
Ada, Economist, Tanya Kersey, President of the Hollywood Black Film Festival,
among others, shared their insights, experience and tips for successfully
navigating life’s challenges and attaining one’s dreams.
