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Tony Blair Hopes to Use Governing Experience to Help Ghana Reach Its Economic Potential

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In a working visit to Ghana, Former British Prime Minister Tony Blair is touting the West African country’s achievements.

Blair, who was in the country at the invitation of the Institute of Economic Affairs (IEA), sai the country has huge potential and is ready for growth. However, he added that growth was only possible if the right Human Resources are harnessed, insisting Africa would need to be more open in its approach.

Blair met with Ghana President Nana Akufo-Addo, where he praised the country’s democratic credentials.

“I know the challenges are formidable,” Blair said. “What I work on now and we were discussing is trying to use my experience at my time in office to do what I can to help countries in their process of change and development. Our initiative is in eight different countries in Africa today. We just focused on one small thing that is helping countries deliver their priorities to the people.”

“He came to us when he was prime minister about 10 years ago and he is back today as a former prime minister. He is still interested in Ghana and its development,” Akufo-Addo said. “He came to have discussions with me about the ways in which he can help with the inside that he has into governance that could also help me in what am trying to do.”

Blair served as prime minister of Great Britain and Northern Ireland from 1997 to 2007.

It is argued that as prime minister, he made Africa a top priority, putting the continent on the G8 agenda for the first time at the Gleneagles Summit in 2005. He also dropped the debt for its poorest countries and led the negotiations that doubled aid to the continent.

Since leaving office, he has continued his commitment to Africa by setting up the Africa Governance Initiative, to primarily work with African leaders to support effective governments.

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