President John Dramani Mahama has advised African leaders to undertake necessary reforms to make the continent an attractive destination for investments. Speaking at the 9th Tokyo International Conference on African Development (TICAD) in Yokohama, Japan, Mahama emphasized that trade and investments will not come to Africa simply because of wishful thinking.
“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,” Mahama said. He stressed that African countries must take concrete steps to create an enabling environment for investments to thrive.
Mahama highlighted the need for African countries to silence guns, reform their economies, and ensure good governance. “Africa must undertake the hard but necessary reforms, as countries on the continent, to make Africa an attractive destination for investments,” he said. “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.”
The former President’s remarks came as part of the conference’s efforts to explore innovative solutions for Africa’s economic development. Mahama’s message was clear: Africa needs pragmatic approaches to attract investments and drive economic growth. The conference provided a platform for African leaders and international partners to discuss ways to promote economic cooperation and development.
Ruth Abla ADJORLOLO
