President Mahama Co-Chairs TICAD-9 Economic Plenary, Calls for African Reforms
President of the Republic of Ghana H.E John Dramani Mahama on Thursday co-chaired the second plenary session on the ‘Economy: Co-create Innovative Solutions with Africa’ at the ongoing 9th Tokyo International Conference on African Development (TICAD) in Yokohama, Japan.
President Mahama shared the chairmanship with former Japanese Prime Minister Kishida Fumio, with high-level interventions from Kenyan President William Ruto, Togolese leader Faure Gnassingbe, and South African President Cyril Ramaphosa. UN Under-Secretary General Cristina Duarte and Comoros President Azali Assoumani also delivered remarks during the session.
In his remarks, President Mahama painted a sobering picture of the current global economic landscape, noting that TICAD-9 is taking place during unprecedented global shifts.
“The world’s largest economy, which should be the driver of global trade and investments, has become more insular and transactional in its relationship with the rest of the world,” President Mahama observed.
Ghanaian President delivered a frank message to African leaders and citizens about the continent’s economic prospects, emphasizing the need for realistic expectations and proactive reforms.
“Africa is open for business. We wish to partner with any nation in the world on a win-win basis. But let’s not kid ourselves! Trade and investments will not come to Africa because we wish for it,” He stated.
President Mahama outlined a comprehensive reform agenda that African nations must pursue to become attractive investment destinations.
“Africa must undertake the hard but necessary reforms, as countries on the continent, to make Africa an attractive destination for investments,” he emphasized.
He identified three critical areas requiring immediate attention: peace and security, economic stability, and governance reforms.
“That is why we must silence the guns and stop the fighting. That is why we must reform our economies and make them more stable and predictable. This is why we must reform our governance and make public service accountable and corruption-free,” President Mahama added.
The TICAD-9 conference brings together African leaders, Japanese officials, and international development partners to discuss strategies for sustainable development and economic cooperation between Japan and Africa.
President Mahama’s participation in the high-level session underscores Ghana’s commitment to continental economic integration and international partnership in addressing Africa’s development challenges.
The conference continues with various sessions focusing on trade, investment, and development cooperation between Japan and African nations.
