President John Dramani Mahama has urged African governments to shift focus toward innovative sectors capable of generating large-scale employment for the continent’s expanding youth population.
Speaking at a Private-Public Partnership Dialogue on the sidelines of the Tokyo International Conference on African Development (TICAD), the President said Africa’s demographic boom presents a historic opportunity—if governments commit to policies that align with the needs of the next generation.
“With millions of young Africans entering the labour market annually, agriculture and manufacturing alone cannot absorb the numbers,” Mahama stated. “We must look to new growth engines such as renewable energy, the creative industries, and digital startups. These are the areas generating jobs faster than the traditional economy.”
He emphasised that the future of Africa’s prosperity lies in sustained investment, innovation, and entrepreneurship that empower young people not only as workers but also as job creators.
Development partners and experts have long described Africa’s youth as its greatest asset. Mahama’s remarks reinforced that message, positioning the continent’s growing population as a potential driver of transformation rather than instability—provided governments and private sector actors rise to the challenge.
