Africa taking 'right direction'

He told global leaders attending the World Economic Forum (WEF) on Africa, that there is a much better clarity among Africa's political leaders about what needs to be done, politically and economically, to achieve growth and development.

Speaking at the closing debate of the WEF Mbeki said: "I think there is much better clarity about the need to establish stable democratic systems. I really do think that there is an understanding, generally, in terms of where we need to go when it comes to the political economy. There will be challenges."

The WEF meeting focused on capitalising on opportunities on the continent.

Four main, interconnected risks were identified as a threat to Africa's prosperity: geopolitical stability, food security, economic shocks and climate change.

He conceded that there were cases where states were not pulling in a positive direction. He called on Africans to accept that: "This independent and liberation we achieved is intended to benefit all of us."

Referring to Ghana as an example he said that there was generally a growing political maturity on the continent he added: "The co-existence of Ghana's President [John] Kufuor's government and the opposition party was, in many instances not easy. Opposition leaders could have been arrested. But they did not. There was a lot of patience and forbearance."

Chairperson and CEO of Coca Cola USA Neville Isdell, who also co-chaired the WEF agreed saying: "This (more responsible political leadership and better economic policies) is underscored by the by level of economic growth. You can identify where the improvements are by looking at where investments are going."

Isdell put the shift towards more democratic rule down to a growing middle class that has "shaken off the shackles of past" where leaders clung to power for life.

"That in itself starts engineering democratic change," said Isdell.

Aliko Dangote, President and CEO of Dangote Group of Nigeria and co-chair for the WEF stressed that, although there were significant challenges - mainly infrastructure and power - to doing business and, therefore, to prosperity, the return on investment on the continent (up to 30%) could not be beaten elsewhere in the world.

- Fin24.com