Africa is at a crossroads. It has been hit hard by the Eurocrisis, but will only lift itself out of poverty when the continent begins to live God’s way.

This was the clear message of the keynote address to the African Biblical Leadership Initiative (ABLI), in Uganda. The forum is run by Bible Society for leaders from the world of politics, business and the church.

Erastus Mwencha, Deputy Chairman of the African Union Commission, told ABLI: "Ten years ago when we did projections we thought of Africa as the last frontier to be lifted out of poverty. But in the last five years all of us have woken up to crisis. Because of our global connectedness, the banking crisis, the Eurocrisis, has brought almost the entire global economy to its knees."

Mr Mwencha said prosperity continued to elude Africa because its leaders had not embraced God’s standards of morality for their nations, nor his call to love your neighbour as yourself. And he issued a clear call for the continent to return to God and live according to Biblical principles.

"Governance is our greatest challenge. Africa has wealth and yet poverty. For the last 50 years the continent has been searching for a path for economic growth and prosperity to lift many millions who live in abject poverty.

"When I look at the Bible, I see the greatest need of the world is to know God’s love, that redemptive love, and to respond to that love. The Bible is full of promises, but they are conditional."

ABLI moderator, Lord Paul Boateng, also highlighted the plight of persecuted Christians in Africa: "All over this continent there are people who are persecuted just because they are Christians." Referring to Nigeria he added: "In Africa’s most populous continent there are people who will attend church this Sunday in fear of their lives."