Obama must help Africa to kick-out Malaria- NGO

Accra, July 11, GNA-Mr Kwabena Osei-Bonsu, Chief Executive of Kick Malaria Out of Africa, a non-governmental organisation, has called on the US to support Ghana to manufacture malaria drugs locally, to eliminate the importation of fake malaria drugs into the country. Mr Osei-Bonsu made the call in an interview with the Ghana News Agency in Accra on Saturday during the visit of the US President, Barack Obama.

He said malaria was killing more children in sub-Sahara Africa with the mortality rate of 2,880 children daily. "Some of these children could have lived long to assume prominent national and international roles," he said.

Mr Osei-Bonsu urged President Obama to let his campaign message of change to serve as a unifying force in Africa. The Chief Executive appealed to the industrialized countries to help fight climate change by assisting Africa to plant economic trees to reduce the hardship on the continent.

The advanced nations should also help Africa to train the youth in employable skills and reduce the migration of Ghanaian professionals seeking greener pastures in their countries. Mr Osei-Bonsu expressed the hope that the visit of President Obama, who is the third American sitting president to visit Ghana, would unite all the political parties and champion the cause of unity for national development and also attract investors.