New York — The foreign minister of Senegal, Cheikh Tidiane Gadio, accepted one of the Africa-America Institute's two Awards for National Achievement on Tuesday night, 13 November in New York City, on behalf of his president Abdoulaye Wade.
Wade and the people of Senegal were saluted by the AAI "for maintaining the tradition of passing the torch and restoring hope for Senegal and West Africa". 'Help Pass the Torch' was the theme of the 17th annual awards' dinner and ceremony of the AAI, whose stated aim is "Educating People, Connecting Worlds".
The Senegalese leader received particular praise from the Africa-America Institute for his role as "a driving force behind the New African Initiative - an ambitious recovery plan inspired by African leadership and targeted at reducing poverty and external aid dependency in Africa." Wade's 'Plan Omega' was integrated into a similar Millennium Recovery Programme, masterminded by Presidents Thabo Mbeki of South Africa and Algeria's Abdelaziz Bouteflika, as well as the Nigerian leader, Olusegun Obasanjo.
AllAfrica.com's Ofeibea Quist-Arcton asked the minister for his reaction to the award:
As you know, the Africa-America Institute is well known around the continent because of the wonderful job theyve been doing in the areas of education, good governance and global involvement in African development and trying to get the international private sector to participate in Africas renewal.
So, to see them honouring President Wade and President Kufuor, who are two tremendous leaders in 'Renewed Africa, the Africa that we love, Africa that is winning and standing on her feet and the Africa that believes in herself and will provide peace and security and stability to all her children. So, it is really a great honour for Senegal. But, like I say, we are pan-Africanists in Senegal, this is not for Senegal its for Africa. So, we are very proud to be here tonight.
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But Minister Gadio, there was a little rider, you said thank you for congratulating us, for honouring us as true new democracies in Africa, but you sounded as though you had some reservations..
I said but the best way to congratulate us is to come and invest in our countries, precisely to show the other African countries and other third-world countries that Senegals and Ghanas way are the way to go. The best to do that is to help us be success stories when it comes to economic development. Then it will be worth all the hassle and pain and suffering.
So, we really hope that our friends understand that message - congratulate us, thank you, but come and invest, its much better.
How realistic do you think that is? Where does it rank on your wish list?
I really believe something has changed. The world has changed and is making some progress. Peoples mentalities have changed and people now have a better perception of Africa. To see how the New African Initiative was welcomed by the G8, by the European countries and everywhere around the world, everybody showed respect for this New African Initiative, so it proves that things have changed. Africa represents half a billion human beings, its a huge market and an attractive market. With respect of the rule of law and a better fiscal and legal environment, people will come. Because business goes where people can do business and Africa is open to that.
