Africa must measure wealth by its people, not resources — President Mahama

President John Dramani Mahama has called on African leaders to redefine the continent’s understanding of wealth, urging nations to prioritise human capital over natural resources as the true measure of prosperity and sovereignty.

Speaking at the official opening of the 2026 Judicial Year and the 20th Anniversary of the African Court on Human and Peoples’ Rights in Arusha, Tanzania, President Mahama stressed that Africa’s greatest inheritance is not its vast mineral deposits but its people.

“Africa has been blessed with many of the world’s natural resources, including gold, silver, diamonds, copper, cobalt, uranium, oil, lithium and more,” he said. “At times, it becomes easy to overlook that our most significant inheritance is our people and their cultural legacies.”

The Ghanaian leader urged African nations to imagine a continent where citizens are free from oppression, conflict, persecution and violence, and assured of their fundamental rights.

“Imagine if Africa measured its wealth not by natural resources, but by its people — valued individuals, free from oppression, conflict, persecution and violence, and assured of their rights to life, dignity, liberty and self-determination. What would that look like?” he asked.

A Demographic Advantage

President Mahama highlighted Africa’s growing population as a powerful asset that must be protected and empowered through strong institutions, particularly independent judicial systems.

By 2050, he noted, Africa’s population will reach 2.5 billion, representing more than a quarter of the world’s population. By the end of the century, nearly 40 per cent of the global population will be African.

“Already, the median age on the African continent is 19,” he said. “Can we imagine the power that we hold in our hands?”

He cautioned that this demographic advantage would only translate into prosperity if African states safeguard human rights, strengthen governance, and create opportunities that prevent brain drain and instability.

Linking Human Rights to Development

President Mahama tied the continent’s economic transformation to the protection of human rights, arguing that development cannot be sustained without justice, dignity and the rule of law.

“For far too long, we have compared ourselves to the West and used what we believed were their standards as benchmarks,” he said, quoting Tanzania’s founding President Julius Nyerere: “One does not judge one’s state of health by comparing it to a sick person.”

He stressed that Africa must develop its own paradigm for democracy and governance while preserving its dignity and cultural identity.

The President also called on African Union member states that have not yet ratified the Protocol establishing the African Court on Human and Peoples’ Rights to do so without delay, assuring leaders that they “have nothing to fear from this Court.”

“I humbly ask all African nations and individuals to respect and implement the Court’s judgements in good faith,” he added.

Looking Ahead

As the African Court marks 20 years of operation, President Mahama described the institution as critical to protecting the rights and dignity of African citizens beyond national borders.

“Now is the time for Africa to step into its greatness,” he declared.