Africa seeks strategic partnerships, not sympathy-Mahama at UK Africa debate

President John Dramani Mahama has called for a new era of equitable and mutually beneficial engagement between Africa and the rest of the world, stressing that the continent is no longer seeking aid or sympathy but strategic partnerships that promote industrialization, technology transfer, and shared prosperity.

Speaking at the 12th Africa Debate in the United Kingdom, Mahama highlighted Africa’s growing economic significance and vast resource potential, describing the continent as a key driver of future global growth.

He noted that Africa possesses substantial reserves of critical minerals essential for the global energy transition, including cobalt, lithium, manganese, copper, bauxite, and rare earth elements. According to him, these resources position the continent at the center of emerging global industries and clean energy development.

Mahama also pointed to the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA), the world’s largest free trade area by the number of participating countries, as a transformative platform for industrialization, manufacturing, and increased intra-African trade.

“This is not merely Africa’s future potential; this is Africa’s present reality,” he said, emphasizing that the continent continues to demonstrate resilience and economic growth despite global uncertainties.

The President observed that while many advanced economies are grappling with economic stagnation, Africa remains among the fastest-growing regions in the world, creating significant opportunities for investors and development partners.

However, Mahama stressed that Africa’s engagement with the international community must evolve beyond the traditional model of exporting raw materials for processing elsewhere.

“Africa does not seek sympathy. Africa seeks partnerships—fair partnerships, strategic partnerships, mutually beneficial partnerships,” he stated.

He argued that the era in which Africa served merely as a source of raw materials for other nations’ industrialization must come to an end, calling instead for collaborations centered on value addition, industrial development, infrastructure investment, skills training, and technology transfer.

“The future relationship between Africa and the world must be built on value addition, industrialization, technology transfer, infrastructure investment, skills development, and shared prosperity,” Mahama said.