A former African Union Ambassador to the United States, Her Excellency Ambassador Arikana Chihombori-Quao has challenged African youth to rise and hold their leaders accountable as well as change non-performing leaders since leadership has let Africans down.

“If your leadership is not accountable nor serving you well replace them. If your Minister of Education is not recommending the proper reading materials in the Educational System replace him or her” Ambassador Chihombori-Quao challenged.

“Our youth are suffering, our youth are sick and tired of bad leadership and deserve better”. she observed.


Delivering the 14th Kwame Nkrumah Memorial Lectures at the University Cape Coast(UCC), Ambassador Arikana advocated for the reunification of Africa and called on African leaders to reunite to fight for development in Africa.

The Memorial Lecture which was held on the topic ‘Imperialism, Colonialism and Neo-Colonialism’ was instituted by UCC and dedicated to the Founder of UCC who doubled as the first President of Ghana, Dr. Kwame Nkrumah.


“It’s our collective responsibility to complete or finish unfinished business started by Dr. Kwame Nkrumah”, Ambassador Chihombori-Quao observed and disclosed that Africans continue to suffer due to the legacy of colonialism, making Africans feel inferior, a belief and practice that has been going on for centuries.


She disclosed that Whites and colonialists defeated Africa with their own minds, adding that Africans should remember that the battle for us to gain our economic liberation starts with the mind.


“I can tell you that your ability to change Africa is undefiled. We are all very much aware that the World Bank and IMF are using the rating agencies to label African governments and give them poor ratings so the World Bank in justifying giving frivolous interest rates to African government” she revealed.

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“As I speak African countries are paying over 50% of GDP on non-repayments to the World Bank and due to this, African Ministers of Finance are attending World Bank meetings and they know this is happening. Why can’t African Finance Ministers go to the World Bank and say enough is enough we are no longer paying because they are secured to challenge the whites” Ambassador Chihombori-Quao fumed.

As part of the event, UCC conferred an Honorary Doctorate Degree on H.E Ambassador Arikana Chihombori-Quao at a special congregation.