President Kwame Nkrumah of Ghana once said:
Africa is a paradox, which illustrates and highlights neo-colonialism. Her earth is rich, yet the products that come from above and below the soil continue to enrich not Africans predominantly, but groups and individuals who operate to Africa's impoverishment.
As we celebrate 50 years of Africa's first independence, let us commit ourselves to ensuring that all Africans are liberated from neo-colonialism, war, poverty and authoritarian regimes so that the ordinary people of this continent gain control of their own destinies and immense natural resources.
Let us also remember the millions of African brothers and sisters who have needlessly died as a result of resource wars on this continent. Let us give a moment of silence to those innocent who died and continue to die in African countries like the Congo, Sudan, Zimbabwe, Rwanda and Burundi. I thank you.