Africa can get out of poverty- Gordon Brown

Kampala

Former British Prime Minister Gordon Brown yesterday delivered a message of hope to Africa describing the continent as one with great potential. Speaking at the New Partnership for Africa’s Development (NEPAD) heads of state and government orientation meeting at the ongoing 15th AU summit, Mr Brown said he was confident that the continent can move out of poverty and develop.

“Africans have always inspired progressives with the heroism of your struggle-against the wrongs of imperialism, against apartheid, against poverty. But its time not merely to inspire us, but to lead us,” Mr Brown said.

“People are no longer prepared to accept that some countries will always be rich and powerful while others will always suffer poverty and powerlessness.” He said although the continent has made some progress on development, countries should rethink the idea of aid as a means of development and come up with more sustainable ways of growing their economies.

Mr Brown added that countries which break their promises of aid to poor countries must be asked to explain themselves in the court of world opinion. “The future is no longer about giving and receiving, but instead investing together in a future which is shared.” He said challenges that face Africa like poverty, climate change, terrorism, stunted growth and financial instability cannot be addressed individually but by working together.

Mr Brown said Africa can grow its economy through faster pace of economic integration in internal and external markets, a broader based export-led growth, investment in the private sector, up-skilling work force and more effective governance. Dr Maxwell Mkwezalamba, the commissioner for Economic Affairs at the AU, said NEPAD’s focus in coming years will be on infrastructural development.