President John Dramani Mahama has issued a powerful call to action for African nations to shed their historical role as spectators in the global economy and emerge as key players in shaping the future of global trade, industry, and innovation.
Speaking at the Kwahu Business Forum, Mahama urged African leaders and entrepreneurs to recognize the current global transitions, sparked by trade tensions, shifting supply chains, and technological disruption, as a rare opportunity to reposition the continent for long-term prosperity.
“Africa cannot afford to be left behind again,” he stated. “The world is changing rapidly, and this time, we must be bold enough to define our place in it.”
The President called for a continental shift from extractive economic models to value-driven sectors, such as manufacturing, agribusiness, digital innovation, and industrialization, stressing that local entrepreneurship and investment in high-value industries are the keys to Africa’s self-reliance and global competitiveness.
Drawing from historical patterns of exclusion, from the Cold War to globalization, President Mahama emphasized that Africa’s moment to lead is now.
“We can be anything that we want,” he said, inspiring the next generation of African leaders to step into roles as builders of industries and creators of jobs.
The Kwahu Business Forum, an annual convening of entrepreneurs, policymakers, and investors, continues to spotlight strategies for sustainable development and private-sector transformation, not just for Ghana, but for the broader African continent.
