President John Dramani Mahama has called on African leaders to take proactive steps in defining the continent’s role in the global economy, stressing that Africa must leverage its resources, population, and emerging middle class to drive sustainable growth.
Addressing the ninth Tokyo International Conference on African Development (TICAD 9) on Thursday, President Mahama highlighted the pressures facing the global trading system, including unilateral actions and trade disputes that threaten international cooperation.
“Multilateralism is on the retreat, and countries are increasingly acting unilaterally,” he noted. “Recent rounds of tariffs and retaliatory measures have disrupted global trade and will continue to affect growth for years to come.”
The President urged African nations to form a “coalition of the willing” to pursue alternative pathways for trade, investment, and economic growth. He emphasized that Africa’s 1.4 billion people, growing middle class, and the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) provide a solid foundation to become a major player in the global economy.
“Africa is open for business and represents the next frontier for trade and investment,” President Mahama said, stressing that while international partnerships such as TICAD remain valuable, the primary responsibility for creating a conducive investment environment rests with African leaders themselves.
His remarks underscored the urgency for Africa to assert its economic agency, reduce reliance on external actors, and chart its own path to prosperity amid shifting global dynamics.
