President John Dramani Mahama has urged African heads of state to place emphasis on peace, economic resilience, and effective leadership as the cornerstone for drawing long-term investment into the continent.
He emphasized that Africa’s potential to thrive on the global stage will not be realized through mere aspirations, but through intentional changes that foster a favorable climate for commerce and enterprise.
Delivering his remarks at the ninth Tokyo International Conference on African Development (TICAD 9) in Tokyo, Japan, on Thursday, August 21, 2025, the president highlighted that collaboration with global partners remains valuable, yet the primary duty lies with African administrations.
“While partnerships such as what we are forging here at TICAD 9 are important, a lot of the responsibility rests on the shoulders of African leaders to create an environment that is conducive to trade and investments,” he said.
President Mahama emphasized that Africa should seek equitable partnerships while implementing the “difficult but essential changes” required to position the continent as a trustworthy investment hub.
“We wish to partner with any nation of the world on the basis of a win-win. But let us not kid ourselves. Trade investment will not come to Africa merely because we wish it. We must undertake the hard and necessary reforms to make Africa an attractive destination for investment,” he added.
He highlighted the importance of peace and security for progress, cautioning that unrest and fragile governance systems discourage investment.
“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. And it is why we must reform our governance and make public service accountable and free of corruption,” President Mahama affirmed.
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