Challenges Africa to overcome scourges
United States presi­dent, Barrack Obama yesterday in Washington DC challenged West African countries facing the Ebola virus outbreak to brace up to the challenge and over­come it.
Obama made the call while addressing African leaders at the White House, and urged them not to forget that as in­dividual countries, they had overcome in the past worse challenges and therefore they should invest every effort to surmount the Ebola threat kill­ing many in the region.
He also pledged that the US would do all possible to as­sist the African nation’s living with the scourge to overcome. During the address, where he hosted African leaders at­tending this year’s US-Africa Leadership Summit he noted that: “And on behalf of all of us here today, our thoughts and prayers are with those who have been affected by the Ebola outbreak, especially those who have lost loved ones.
The United States and our international partners will continue to do whatever we can to help our African part­ners respond to this crisis and to stand with the people of Guinea, Liberia and Si­erra Leone. In their histories they’ve overcome great chal­lenges, and they are drawing on that same spirit of strength and resilience today.
He also called that: “More­over, Africa’s progress is be­ing led by Africans, includ­ing leaders represented here today. More governments are embracing economic reforms, attracting record levels of in­vestment. Gains in develop­ment, increasing agricultural AFP
production, declining rates in infectious diseases are being driven by African plans. Afri­can security forces and Afri­can peacekeepers are risking their lives to meet regional threats. A new generation of young Africans is making its voice heard.
While noting that African leaders have the task of lead­ing the continent to prosper­ity, he also tasked that “Af­rica’s rise means opportunity for all of us, including the op­portunity to transform the re­lationship between the United States and Africa. As I said in Cape Town last year, it’s time for a new model of partner­ship between America and Africa a partnership of equals that focuses on African ca­pacity to solve problems, and on Africa’s capacity to grow.  And that’s why we are here.
Obama also called on the leaders to focus on job cre­ation and expand trade as a way of improving on the econ­omy of Africa. “We have the opportunity to expand trade that creates jobs. The new trade deals and investments I announced yesterday are an important step. And today we can focus on what we can do, as governments, to accelerate that investment, economic and regulatory reforms, regional integration, and development so that growth is broad-based, especially among women, who must be empowered for economies to truly flourish.
“Second, we have the op­portunity to strengthen the governance upon which eco­nomic growth and free soci­eties depend. Today we can focus on the ingredients of progress: rule of law, open government, accountable and transparent institutions, strong civil societies, and respect for the universal human rights of all people.”

Obama prays for Ebola victims, promises assistance