Thursday, May 09, 2013

Ethiopian PM Stresses Need To Change Africa's Image

(May 09, 2013, (Addis Ababa))--Ethiopian Prime Minister Hailemariam Dessalegn has stressed the need for Africans to exert efforts with a view to changing the image of the continent tarnished by the negative publicity of the international media.

In his message delivered through a representative at the opening of the 1st All Africa Public Relations and Strategic Communication Summit (APRA) here Wednesday, Hailemariam, who is also Chairman of the African Union (AU), said that such negative publicity tarnished the image of Ethiopia and of other African countries.

However, he noted, less of war and famine is being heard whenever Ethiopia is mentioned nowadays in the global media as the country is registering rapid development. He said Ethiopia was in the process of rapid development and transformation geared at improving the lives of the underprivileged rural population and the urban poor.

According to international reports, the country has become among the top fastest growing countries in the world. Establishment of the APRA and deliberations of the Summit is significant to help Africa speak in its own voice, Hailemariam said.

Ghana's Information Minister, Mahama Ayaya, told the meeting that Africa was undertaking promising activities to change its image. He said six African countries -- Ethiopia, Angola, Zambia, Mozambique, Liberia and Niger -- had already joined the list of countries which had registered the most rapid growth in the world. APRA is the successor organisation to the Federation of African Public Relations Associations.
Source: Ethiopian News Agency

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