Africa Must “Silence the Guns and Stop the Fighting” to Attract Global Investment- President Mahama
President of the Republic of Ghana H.E John Dramani Mahama has called on African leaders to prioritize peace and stability to unlock the continent’s economic potential, emphasized during the ongoing 9th Tokyo International Conference on African Development (TICAD) in Yokohama, Japan.
“We must silence the guns and stop the fighting,” President Mahama declared, outlining critical reforms needed to make Africa an attractive destination for international investment.
President Mahama painted a stark picture of the current global trade landscape, noting that “multilateralism is on the retreat, and countries are increasingly acting unilaterally in their relationship with the rest of the world.”
Despite these challenges, Africa presents unprecedented opportunities. “Africa is open for business and is the next frontier for trade and investment, with a population of 1.4 billion people and a fast growing middle class,” He stated.
However, the path forward requires decisive action from African leadership. “Trade and Investment will not come to Africa merely because we wish it. We must undertake the hard but necessary reforms to make Africa an attractive destination for investment,” He emphasized.
The reform agenda extends beyond conflict resolution to economic and governance improvements. “We must reform our economies and make them more stable and predictable, and it is why we must reform our governance and make public service accountable and free of corruption,” President Mahama added.
The President of Ghana called for a fundamental shift in international partnerships, stating: “We must move from handouts to leveraging our partnerships with countries like Japan to co create prosperity for all stakeholders.”
The vision includes combining “Japan’s technology and innovation with Africa’s natural resources and youthful skilled human resource to create growth and prosperity for all.”
