Sunyani May 16, GNA- Dr Kwasi Nsiah-Gyabaah, Principal of Sunyani Polytechnic, has expressed the need for African leaders to develop an agenda to accelerate the continent's development. He noted that the debt crisis and political instability were some of the factors that had undermined sustainable growth and development of the continent.

Dr Nsiah-Gyabaah was speaking at a day's training workshop for stakeholders in the implementation of NEPAD in Sunyani. It was jointly organised by the Foundation For future Leaders International and the Ministry of Regional Cooperation and NEPAD and founded by The Canadian International Development Agency, on the theme: "Moving from a Passive Recipient to an Active Partner: The Case Of NEPAD".

Dr Gyabaah noted that media reports on Africa were always about conflicts, poverty, starvation and communicable diseases. He stressed the need for African leaders to work collectively to promote the principles of democracy, good governance, peace and security, human rights and sound economic management. "Africa belongs to us, particularly the youth", he said and urged the youth to be imbued with a sense of responsibility and efficiency to ensure the continent's rapid growth.

Dr Kofi Bobi Barimah, Senior lecturer at the Catholic University of Ghana asked Ghanaians to get actively involved in the implementation of the objectives of NEPAD for the growth and development of Ghana and the continent.

Mr Kwame Owusu Nuako, Personal Assistant to the Minister of Regional Cooperation and NEPAD, said NEPAD was intended to empower African countries to take their destinies into their hands and forge strategic partnership with other regions to move the continent into the mainstream of globalisation.

He said NEPAD was not the first attempt by African countries to solve the problems of the continent. 16 May 05