Sunyani, July 28, GNA- African countries need dedicated, and committed leaders to mobilize the abundant natural and human resources to end poverty and under-development, Nana Kwadwo Seinti Brong Ahafo Regional Minister said on Wednesday.

Nana Seinti was speaking at a day's forum on African Peer Review Mechanism on Tuesday in Sunyani.

Presiding Members, Coordinating Directors, Head of Departments and District Chief Executives attended the forum.

He said African countries since the attainment of Independence, have been affected by abject poverty and its attendant low standard of living, famine, diseases, conflicts, wars and anarchy.

Nana Seinti said the leaders were concerned with how to retain power and remain in office for life and suppress any opposing views. They abused with impunity human rights, adding that such leaders were not accountable to their people and did what ever they liked with the resources of their countries.

He said the terms of world trade have remained negative for Africa since the price of commodities in African countries were determined by the industrial countries.

The Regional Minister said most countries depended on borrowing from multi donors and bilateral agencies for the provision of infrastructure and had to service the huge debts with their little foreign earnings. Dr. Francis Appiah Executive Secretary of the programme explained the rationale behind the Mechanism and the general over view of its process to the participants and urged them to embrace the programme, which would be managed by African leaders. 28 July 04