President Obama, USAID Administrator Dr. Raj Shah, The Chairman of the Millennium Challenge Corporation, Daniel Yohannes, along with the Chairman of the African Union, President Yayi Boni of Benin, President Mills of Ghana, President Kikwete of Tanzania, and Prime Minister Meles of Ethiopia made a bold stride to make food security a priority for the tens of thousands of children dying from the agony of starvation, the incalculable loss of life that continues to mount despite the fact that Africa holds most of the worlds unused arable land.

Citing the fact that just 50 years ago Africa was an exporter of food, Obama stressed that today, and Africa is importing food to feed the people of the Continent, a reality that is both unreasonable and irrational.

Obama announced a new alliance for food security and nutrition to bring together the world community to bring an international focus on developing the agricultural potential of Africa.

Further, Obama stressed that transformation in even the most challenging environments in Africa is possible by making tough reforms and attracting new investments.  The donor community, Obama stressed, must focus on the future plans for reform of the nations of Africa – a forward looking articulation of US-African policy which urges the private sector, from small to large multinationals to small African cooperatives, NGOs, and civil society groups to agree to make concrete and continuing commitments to align theses sectors with the forward growth of African economies.

As the single largest donor of aid in the Horn of Africa, President Obama also referenced the importance of focusing development efforts on providing trade and investment in countries where people lack dignity and self sufficiency, clearly declaring the moral authority of permitting the principles of human rights and corporate social responsibility in our efforts to lift people out of poverty – not by providing a hand out – but providing a hand up.

Obama stated,” when tens of thousands of children die from the agony of starvation… that sends us a message that we still have a lot of work to do.  It’s unacceptable.  It’s an outrage.  It’s an affront to who owe are.”

The Ninth Leon H. Sullivan Summit, a Summit of world leaders will gather this August 20 – 24, 2012 in Malabo, Equatorial Guinea under the theme “Africa Rising”.  The overriding theme of the Summit, which is chaired by 2012 World Food Prize Honoree, former President of Ghana, John A. Kufuor, will be human rights in an increasingly global society.

The Upcoming Sullivan Summit is expected to be attended by upwards of 4000 delegates from across the US and Africa. Summit host President Obiang has indicated he is inviting all 54 African Presidents to attend the Sullivan Summit in the fully equipped and tourist ready new city of Malabo in Equatorial Guinea which was built to create a state of the art platform for the Summits of the African Union, the continent wide organization of African leaders.   In recent years, President Obiang has made significant reforms in his country and the Central African region stressing the importance of democratic ideals and creating an enabling environment for new investment and sustainable development.

President Obiang stepped down several months ago as Chairman of the African Union and passed his leadership post to President Yayi Boni of Benin.

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Former Ghanaian President, John Kufuor Challenges International Corporations to Work Towards Improving Their Standards in Africa

Washington D.C., May 16, 2012 – The Leon H. Sullivan Foundation calls upon all international companies that operate in Africa to improve their standards and investments in the development of the continent. By launching the “100 Days of Change” campaign, the Foundation is voicing the inequalities related to doing business in Africa, and the dishonorable practices conducted by foreign companies on African soil. The challenge to corporations is to create resolutions for sustainable change and present those resolutions at the Sullivan Summit IX, which will be held in Malabo, Equatorial Guinea from August 20-24^th, 2012. The Foundation will also celebrate those corporations whose business practices are exceptionally supporting the development of Africa.

“It’s time for the international community to understand that Africa cannot be taken for granted. We as Africans cannot stand by as our riches, our land, and most of all, our dignity are taken from us, especially for the clear motive of profit above the preservation of basic human rights,” said the Summit IX Chairman, former Ghanaian President John Kufuor.

Kufuor went on to say, “Although there are various injustices, there are also numerous companies doing good, and we wish to highlight them as role models.”

Over the course of the “100 Days of Change” campaign, the Sullivan Foundation, through tweets (#100daysofchange, Twitter handle @SullivanFound), Facebook  (www.facebook.com/SullivanFoundation), and the Sullivan Foundation website (www.sullivansummit.org) will present the opportunity for individuals, Non-profits, and NGO’s to blog, to share photos, and to speak out with numerous Heads of States and CEO’s at Sullivan Summit IX. This Summit stands as a unique venue for communicating and drawing on the economic inequalities created by corporations on African soil; we will focus on ten distinct industries operating on the continent.

Ms. Hope Sullivan Masters, the President and CEO of the Foundation stated, “This is an opportunity for foreign firms working in Africa to demonstrate their solutions for building enabling environments in the communities of which they have taken advantage. Created by my late father, the Global Sullivan Principles, stand as a tool for human rights, the basis for corporate social responsibility, and will be a platform to command the equality Africans deserve.”

Summit Chairman H.E. Kufuor has written a statement to world leaders and CEO’s of international firms inviting them to attend the Summit and to partake in the 100 Days of Change campaign. His announcement, released today and found on the Summit website, is the call to action for those who have questioned the need for change and for those who have questioned the issue of Human Rights and good governance in Africa.

“Africa is seen today as the new investment destination of the entire world, however we must be cognizant that Africans are not taken advantage of in the process. We know the endless economic opportunities that the continent has to offer, but we cannot afford to taint the continent by remaining naïve to clear injustices,” said Summit Chairman H.E. John Kufuor.

The Leon H. Sullivan Summit, an initiative of the Leon H. Sullivan Foundation was the first internationally recognized Summit of world leaders, convened on African soil, by a non-governmental private foundation. Held biennially in an African nation, the Summits have hosted high-level U.S. Government officials, including former U.S. Presidents Bill Clinton and George W. Bush, as well as former U.S. Secretaries of State Colin Powell and Condoleezza Rice. Since 1991, more than 20,000 people from the United States and across Africa have attended the Summits and more than $180 billion of debt relief from developed nations has been forgiven through the work of the Summits. More information can be found at www.SullivanSummit.org.

For Media Inquiries, please contact summitix@thesullivanfoundation.org 202-736-2239

My Dear Friends and Family,

This coming August in the city of Malabo, Equatorial Guinea, the Leon H. Sullivan Summit will gather a remarkable group of world leaders, chief executive officers, pioneers, and regular, everyday people just like you and me. In fact, the Sullivan Summit is often referred to as “The People’s Summit” because, unlike every other Summit of nations and world leaders, anyone can attend the Sullivan Summit to participate in dialog with the men and women who are shaping the policies and practices that will give rise to Africa’s future.

Together we will examine how the world is becoming ever more rapidly digital, mobile, virtual, and personal; yet remote and impersonal.  Our greatest challenge as members of this globalized society – what do these changes mean for our leaders and what will they mean for people like you and me?   And perhaps most importantly, how can we protect the infirmed, the poor, the defenseless, and the isolated from a society moving faster and faster away from their grasp?

Technology and globalization have created a phenomenon that is accelerating profound shifts in the way we communicate, conduct business, govern, innovate, and become competitive.   At the Ninth Leon H. Sullivan Summit, we will learn from each other about managing change, and we will explore how the public and the private sectors can manage a changing society while not leaving our most vulnerable members behind without hope and without a way to rise.

At the Ninth Leon H. Sullivan Summit we will benefit from the collective wisdom of our leaders and our peers as we innovate in these uncertain times.  The leaders of Africa, and indeed the entire world, are all challenged to use the capabilities of this age to drive a world economy that will benefit all.

There is a Continent waiting to be developed!  Join us on the most exciting journey of this Century, the journey of Africa Rising.

See you in Malabo.

One love,