Keypoints:
- Mahama warns Africa must reform to attract investors
- Calls for peace, stability and accountable governance
- Urges world leaders to embrace win-win partnerships
PRESIDENT John Dramani Mahama has urged African nations to pursue urgent reforms to attract investment, warning that trade and capital will not flow to the continent simply through wishful thinking.
The Ghanaian leader delivered the message on Thursday while co-chairing the second plenary session of the 9th Tokyo International Conference on African Development (TICAD) in Yokohama, Japan. The session, titled Economy: Co-create Innovative Solutions with Africa, brought together a mix of African and global leaders.
Mahama shared the chair with former Japanese Prime Minister Kishida Fumio. Speakers included Kenyan President William Ruto, Togo’s Faure Gnassingbé, South African President Cyril Ramaphosa, Comoros leader Azali Assoumani, and UN Under-Secretary General Cristina Duarte.
‘Africa is open for business’
In his closing remarks, Mahama said TICAD-9 was taking place against the backdrop of a shifting world order.
‘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,’ he noted, in an apparent reference to the United States.
Despite this, Mahama stressed that Africa remained ready for partnerships. ‘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.’
Stability and governance key to attracting capital
Mahama emphasised that African states must do the hard work of reforming their economies, governance systems, and security landscapes to make the continent more appealing to investors.
‘Africa must undertake the hard but necessary reforms, as countries on the continent, to make Africa an attractive destination for investments,’ he said.
He outlined three priorities: silencing conflicts, ensuring macroeconomic stability, and tackling corruption through accountable governance.
‘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,’ Mahama declared.
Japan-Africa ties in focus
TICAD, first launched in 1993, remains a cornerstone of Japan’s diplomatic engagement with Africa. The ninth edition in Yokohama has drawn African heads of state and international leaders to discuss economic cooperation, peace, and sustainable growth.
Mahama’s intervention underscored the urgency of building investor confidence in Africa through domestic reforms, even as global power dynamics reshape development partnerships.
By pushing for peace, transparency, and strong institutions, he framed Africa’s future not as a plea for aid but as a competitive destination for capital.
