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President John Evans Atta Mills on Friday threw a challenge to fellow African leaders who still kowtowed to their colonial masters to take bold steps to untie the dependency umbilical cords and take their destiny into their own hands. He was very optimistic of the ability of the African to propel his development with the available abundant human, natural and material resources and raise the standard of living of the continent despite its dark history and the devastation of colonialism. Addressing the African Diplomatic Corps in Ottawa, as part of the four-day working visit to Canada , President Mills minced no words that the pursuit of different agenda by African leaders rather than a unified one with loss of focus had often left the Continent with little progress and development . Stressing that the Continent had more to unite that divide it, President Mills said the nations of Africa, despite their geographical boundaries were one people with a common destiny, and re-emphasised his call on African leaders justify their election into power by using the resource to improve upon the lives of the people. He said the people of Africa are looking up to their leaders to help them out of the quagmire of poverty with the provision of the basic necessities of food, education and other social services. President Mills observed that Africa is now having a new crop of leaders who are beginning to commit themselves to what they can do to improve the lives of the �long suffering� people. The President urged African countries and their leaders to take their destiny into their own hands, and build on blocks erected by the Founding Fathers to salvage Africa and satisfy the needs of their people. President Mills stressed peace as very necessary for accelerated development adding, Governments can stay in power only if they satisfy the needs of the people, reminding leaders that their elections is not a carte blanche for the use of power. �The way forward is for us all to come together and talk to one another,� President Mills said, and praised the institution of the African Peer Review Mechanism, for its positive tenets. On the general elections in Ghana in 2012, President Mills pledged his commitment to a free, fair and transparent elections. �If democracy is the chosen path, then you should be guided by the decision of the people of who should be their leader,� President Mills said, explaining that election violence and bloodshed and the sight of people carrying blankets and buckets fleeing violent and trouble spots after election has not helped Africa in any way. President Mills urged people around political leaders to be frank with them and tell them the truth no matter how bitter it is. He commended Canada for its assistance to development projects in Ghana, and for continuing to stick to Ghana in times of difficulty. The Dean of the African Diplomatic Corps, Juliette Bonkoungo, appealed to senior statesmen for a mentoring. Meanwhile, President Mills has commissioned the refurbished Ghana Chancery Building in Ottawa, He acknowledged that the project was started by the previous administration of the New Patriotic Party and completed by the present Government therefore a joint project. The Rev Dr Emmanuel Asare- Kusi, Supt Minister of the Canada Mission Circuit of the Methodist Chucrh, Ghana consecrated the building.