Ghana’s Foreign Minister Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa lambasted Western nations for prioritizing military spending, notably for the Ukraine conflict, over Africa’s development. He claimed that such diversion of resources has resulted in a breakdown of trust between Africa and the West. He called for stronger African leadership to counter external threats and urged unity among nations to protect their resources.
On March 18, Ghana’s Foreign Minister Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa criticized Western nations for prioritizing military expenditures over developmental needs at the Raisina Dialogue in New Delhi. He underscored that the focus of these nations has shifted away from realizing the G20 goals, emphasizing that approximately $380 billion had been allocated to the Ukraine conflict over the last three years, funds he believes could address Africa’s pressing infrastructure issues.
Ablakwa articulated that the G20 was originally established to promote industrialization, generate economic wealth, and broaden trade possibilities. However, he lamented the substantial diversion of funds from essential international development to support the Ukraine war, asserting this shift has led to a significant erosion of trust between African countries and Western powers, including the United States and the United Nations.
The minister called attention to a glaring “vacuum in leadership,” advocating for a more salient role for African nations in global affairs. He noted that trusted leadership has diminished since the Cold War, with countries like South Africa and India pushing for non-alignment. Ablakwa stressed the futility of war, asserting the necessity for unity among nations to forge a better future.
Addressing the external threats facing Africa, Ablakwa indicated that certain actors exploit the continent’s divisions using a divide-and-conquer strategy. He remarked, “It’s always about our resources,” referencing gold, uranium, diamonds, bauxite, and timber as focal points of exploitation. He cautioned that African nations must strategize to prevent vulnerabilities to these threats, remarking that “we have a fair idea of who they are,” referring to historical impacts from slavery and colonialism. He warned against “neo-colonial actors” who seek to fragment African unity for resource exploitation.
In summary, Ghana’s Foreign Minister Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa has firmly expressed concerns regarding the Western focus on militarization at the expense of crucial developmental goals. He highlighted significant financial misallocation towards conflict rather than addressing Africa’s infrastructure challenges, which has bred distrust between African states and Western nations. His call for African leadership underscores the need for unity against external exploitation, especially regarding the continent’s valuable resources.
Original Source: www.firstpost.com
