Port Harcourt -Rwandan Attorney-General and Minister of Justice, Mr Busingye Johnston, has charged African countries to work hard for the development of the continent.
Johnston made the call in Port Harcourt in an address at the opening of the 56th annual conference of the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) on Sunday.
The theme of the conference is “ Democracy and Economic Development”.
The minister said that the time was ripe for Africans to take up the challenge for the development of the continent.
“ Many African economies today are posting positive growth. Economically, I believe that this is Africa`s time.
“ Our collective purchasing power today in Africa is about eight trillion dollars . By 2035, we are projected to have surpassed the United States of America in purchasing power.
“ If we have this purchasing powers, if we have the natural resources, if we have the gold reserves, if we have the cotton, organic food, should we not imagine and work for an Africa without aids,” he asked.
Johnston said Africa did not need aid because the people had the opportunity to make money on their own.
The minister stated that potentials in the continent were such that there was no need to import second hand clothes or shoes from Europe and America.
He said that the Rwanda government had decided that by 2020, it would stop the imports of second hand shoes and clothes.
He said after the 1994 genocide, the country had united and forged ahead to make the future bright.
Johnston said that Rwandans had learnt how to be self-reliant without waiting for anybody to care for them.(NAN)