Kongo (U/E), July 9, GNA - Rev Brother Francis Sebo, a Presentation Brother with the Catholic Church has blamed poverty in Africa on greed and selfishness exhibited by some African leaders and well-to-do people who do not want to share with others. He said the rich in Africa forget about the development of individuals and their communities.

"Africans are held hostage by their own attitudes. Africans can on their own eradicate poverty and hunger if attitudinal changes are made," Rev Brother Sebo said in an interview with the GNA. Rev Brother Sebo, a Liberian who spent many years at Kongo before going to the US, said apart from the rich resources of African countries, Africans "Africans are brainy and are very smart." He is sponsoring many brilliant but needy students some of whom have completed universities as well as Teacher Training and Nursing Training colleges.

Rev Brother Sebo is in Kongo to visit people who benefited from his scholarship and those who are still in school. "Africans are held hostage by their own attitudes. Africans can, on their own, eradicate poverty and hunger if attitudinal changes are made." He called on Africans who are well resourced, especially those in the Diaspora, to contribute to the development of their communities and countries. Rev Brother Sebo appealed to African leaders not to depend solely on developed countries and said what was very crucial was to seek technical know-how from the developed countries. He is sponsoring 45 students in the Talensi-Nabdam District from money he inherited from his father and donations from families and friends in the US and Europe. 09 July 10