The President of Ghana, Dramani Mahama, has said that the continent’s strong position in the world economy, which sees the economies of Sudan, Libya, Sierra Leone, Gambia and Mozambique ranked amongst the top 10 economies by World Bank is a result of effective communication by Africans.

Mahama said this yesterday while delivering a keynote address at the first All Africa PR & Strategic Communication summit in Addis Ababa, the Ethiopia capital.

Apart from Ghana that recorded 14 per cent Gross Domestic Product (GDP) in 2011, the World Bank report stated that Sudan recorded 31.2per cent, Libya attained 20.2per cent and Sierra Leone recorded 17.1 per cent in 2012. The report revealed that the Gambia and Mozambique recorded 8.9 per cent and 8.1 per cent respectively same year.

Highlighting the effects of communication in the continent’s economic growth, Mahama said: “While we bask in the glow of our emerging financial and economic success, it is important that we pause long enough to identify some of the factors that have contributed to the burst of economic momentum that is propelling Africa in a direction that has generated so much expectations of a prosperous future for the continent.

“I want to say that the rise of Africa in the first decade of the 21^st century should be credited to the harnessing of communication in all its manifestations as a tool for sustainable development.

“Africa is rising because Africa is communicating more effectively. All over Africa, the availability of communications and accessibility to communications is raising awareness about the challenges that confront us, which must be engaged and defeated.”

Recent economic development models have predicted a massive economic transformation in Africa. All these favourable predictions about Africa, however, always insert a caveat which invariably relates to communication.

Mahama said the negative perception of the continent has begun to change dramatically. “This change is most fascinating because of the pace at which our continent is being refurbished to assume its rightful place the living room of our global village,” he stated.

However, the Deputy Chairperson, Africa Union Commission, Erastus Mwencha, said if Africa must sustain the current economic momentum, the leaders must work towards ensuring that technology must be key driver of the economy, removal of artificial obstacle such as entry requirement amongst African and effective communication against stereotype perception must be achieved.

•Photo (L-R): Brand Reporter, Independent Newspapers/Chairman, Brand Journalists’ Association of Nigeria (BJAN), Goddie Ofose (left), CEO, Synthesis Communications, Desmond Ekeh, Global Ambassador for APRA, Justin Green, MD/CEO, Publics Ltd, Edward Adebanjo and President, Association of Corporate Affairs Managers of Banks/CEO, Red Ribbon Ltd, Tunde Shofowora at the first All PR & Strategic Communication summit organised by APRA . . . today in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.

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