Accra, July 19, GNA - The Most Reverend Charles Palmer-Buckle, acting President of the Ghana Catholic Bishops' Conference, on Monday noted that Africa's major predicament towards development was the low self-esteem mentality of the people.

"Developments across the continent over the last decade, with Africans standing their grounds and excelling globally calls for attitudinal change, and shift towards self-confidence, self-reliance and self-sufficiency," Rev Palmer-Buckle stated at press conference in Accra.

It was to announce the 15th Plenary Assembly and 40th Anniversary celebration of the Symposium of Episcopal Conferences of Africa and Madagascar (SECAM) slated for July 26 - August 2, on the theme: "SECAM at 40: Self-Reliance, The Way Forward for the Church in Africa".

Rev Palmer-Buckle noted: "In spite of the challenges, Africa has a lot to offer and contribute within the Community of Nations- recent demonstration of tenacity and can do spirit by Ghana's Under-21 Football Team for winning FIFA World Cup.

"And also the courageous exploit of the Senior National Team, the Black Stars in South Africa 2010 as well as the managerial quality of South Africa for organising the tournament and other exploit by other African countries in all spheres, show that Africa is of age to play football with the so called big boys," he added.

Rev Palmer-Buckle used the occasion to send a solidarity message to the Democratic Republic of Congo, Nigeria, Uganda and Ghana for recent fatalities in these countries, stressing "lost of any life is a big deficit to the nation".

About 250 participants including, Cardinals, Archbishops and Bishops, Priests and Religious and Lay people, as well as officials from the Vatican and Catholic Partner Agencies and organisations, would be attending the conference.

SECAM seeks to promote its role as a sign and instrument of salvation, and to build the Church as a family of God in Africa, preserve and foster communion, collaboration and joint action among all the Episcopal Conferences of Africa and the Islands.

The Conference also promotes the propagation of faith, focuses on integral liberation of the human person, good governance, justice and peace issues, as well as the pursuit of fraternal relations and inter-religious dialogue with peoples of the faiths.