Professor Haruna Yakubu, Pro-Vice-Chancellor of University of Cape Coast, on Monday said it was prudent that African leaders made conscious efforts to develop their countries by making provision for the basic necessities of life for their people in order to achieve the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs).
He noted that the most secured democracy was one that considered the provision of basic human needs as its fundamental duty and assured the general well-being of the people.
"It is in view of this that the World Conference and Millennium Assembly, resolved to create the conducive environment to eliminate poverty," he said.
Prof. Yakubu was addressing the opening session of a four-day International Conference on "Rethinking Development Studies in Africa" organised by the Institute for Development Studies (IDS) and sponsored by the Dutch Government at Cape Coast.
It is being attended by academicians, formulators and implementers of policies from Nigeria, Uganda, Netherlands, United States and Ghana.
He said as African countries embarked on economic development and democratization, it was important that they focused on the total development of their people, because the ultimate purpose of any development policy or process was the enhancement of quality life.
Prof. Yakubu noted that Africans were now demanding better living conditions from their leaders and observed that the conference was organised at an appropriate time when Ghana was about to consolidate her democracy in December and expressed the hope that the participants would come out with a "discourse on the concept of development".
Prof. Stephen Kendie, of IDS who gave an overview of the conference, said it brought together all stakeholders to strategize on development and help move the developmental agenda in Ghana and Africa forward.