, Shamima Muslim has questioned whether the United States of America or other developed coun){kind=link}
The Convenor for the Alliance for Women in Media Africa(AWMA), Shamima Muslim has questioned whether the United States of America or other developed countries would still be interested in Africa without its natural resources?
According to her, in as much as it is an important question for the Americas, the Chinese and others to reflect on, it is an even more important question for Africans to answer.
This was captured in her statement while addressing audience before the Vice President of the United States of America (USA), Kamala Harris delivered a keynote address when she visited Ghana a few days ago.
Kamala Harris arrived in Ghana on Sunday, March 26, 2023 to begin her Africa tour which included Tanzania and Zambia.
Her visit was part of plans to reinforce partnerships between the United States of America, Ghana and the other African Countries.
On Monday, March 27, 2023, a State Banquet, Hosted by President of Ghana, Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo Addo was held to officially receive her.
She also delivered a keynote address in Accra on Tuesday, March 28th, 2023 at the Black Stars Square where she spoke about partnerships, innovations, women empowerment, entrepreneurship and others.
In recent times, it has been reported that America and China are in a race to win Africa’s hearts and minds due to its natural resources.
The US-China rivalry includes a race to secure minerals that are critical to green energy which Africa has some of the world’s biggest supplies.
Read Also: Int. Women’s Day: AWMA, Canada organise forum for women in media
Speaking before the Vice President, Shamima Muslim said in 2010, she had the privilege of being amongst the very first cohort of President Barack Obama’s YALI programme at the Whitehouse, where she was able to ask him whether it was possible to have a true partnership between a super-power like America and a developing country like Ghana.
She noted that the Former President Obama believed that such a partnership was possible because Africa and America had many aligning interests.
In spite of that, Shamima Muslim was of the view that it was time for Africa to ponder on how else it can maximize the benefits of its natural resources and what new value it can harness the energies and innovations of its youth for the benefit of the world.
“Over the years, I have reflected on and refined my question even further. Would America, or the developed world, still be interested in Africa without its natural resources? Much as this is an important question for our partners to reflect on, it is an even more important question for us in Africa to answer. How else can we maximize the benefits of our natural resources and what new value can we harness the energies and innovations of our young people to create to benefit our people and the world? We must begin to reflect on and act for An Africa Beyond Natural Resources,” she said.
Meanwhile, Shamima Muslim noted that already, many young Africans are working to create value across creative and digital spaces and others.
She acknowledged some support the US government was giving to some entrepreneurs and innovators in Ghana and other African Countries, stating that the US government is investing USD 350 million in the Digital Transformation with Africa programme to create a transformative ecosystem for technology entrepreneurship.
“In my part of the country, the USAID Sustainable Shea Initiative is empowering over 400,000 women across Northern Ghana for economic and social impact through the Shea industry. We look forward to the sustainable impact of such programmes,”she said.
The Founder of AWMA therefore called on African Governments to open up major opportunities for the youth.
“We call on African governments to commit to passing affirmative action policies to help bridge the gender and diversity divide. And to treat with utmost urgency the need to open up major opportunities for Africa’s ballooning youth population,” she stated.
Ghana| Atinkaonline.com| Porcia Oforiwaa Ofori