Ellen opens conference on emergence of Africa

President Ellen Johnson – Sirleaf has opened the Second Edition of an international conference on the emergence of Africa in Abidjan, Cote d’Ivoire, stressing that Africa is rising.

President Sirleaf who chairs regional body ECOWAS says the future of the African Continent’s growth and prosperity is certain, saying the continent is on the move and its future is certain.

An Executive Mansion release issued on Wednesday, 29 March says President Sirleaf made the statement on Tuesday, 28 March in the Ivorian Capital Abidjan when she opened the 2017 Second Edition of International Conference on the Emergence of Africa or ICEA.

The Conference on the Emergence of Africa was organized by Côte d’Ivoire and the United Nations Development Program or UNDP, in partnership with the World Bank and the African Development Bank or AfDB and brought together over 400 personalities and representatives of governments, international development institutions, research and academic centers, the private sector, and civil society organizations.

She said since the global decline of prices of basic commodities and the effect of Ebola, Liberia still continues to face the challenges of transforming growth. But she said Africa’s future was certain because Africans were taking hold of their own future. “We are so pleased that many of us are still finding the way in the rest of Africa, from Ethiopia to Kenya, Uganda, Somalia, Tanzania, East Africa, North Africa, Central Africa and West Africa, – we are now transforming our future, and the future is very great,” she noted.

Mrs. Sirleaf recounted the success and challenges of African countries at Sofitel Hotel where the conference took place under the theme: “The Implementation of Plans for Emergence in Africa.”

The Liberian leader attributed the future of Africa to its people’s resolve to shape their own destiny, while at the same time emphasizing the need for countries to ensure value addition to their exports, divergences and modernization among other things to keep their economy animated.

She maintained that Africans must take ownership of their destiny and as well take stock of their achievements and embrace it. Mrs. Sirleaf has stressed that “we” have confidence in Africa’s future and the processes.

She said the the three-day meeting was an opportunity to assess countries’ progress in formulating programs and policies relating to the emergence of Africa. She challenged participants to assess issues of climate change, adaptation, and new technology among other things that are critical to achieving emergence.

She then congratulated Ivorian President AlassaneOuattara for the warm reception and hospitality accorded her and delegation since their arrival in Abidjan and thanked him for organizing the conference.

Special remarks were also delivered by Presidents Alpha Conde of Guinea, MackySall of Senegal, AlassaneOuattara of Côte d’Ivoire, Helen Clark of UNDP and AfDB President Dr. Akinwumi A. Adesina.

The conference seeks to address various issues relating to the governance of public institutions and the inclusive and sustainable structural transformation of Africa. President Sirleaf and delegation returned home late Tuesday evening.