President John Dramani Mahama has urged African leaders to silence the guns and embrace reforms, stressing that peace and strong policies are key to making the continent attractive to global investors.
Speaking at the 9th Tokyo International Conference on African Development (TICAD 9) in Yokohama, Japan, President Mahama said partnerships like TICAD are important, but African leaders must take responsibility to create stable and predictable conditions for trade and investment.
“While partnerships such as the one we are forging here at TICAD 9 are important, much responsibility rests on the shoulders of African leaders to create an environment conducive to trade and investment,” he stated.
President John Dramani Mahama on Thursday, August 21, 2025 co-chaired the second plenary session on the ‘Economy: Co-create Innovative Solutions with Africa’ of the ongoing 9th Tokyo International Conference on African Development (TICAD) in Yokohama, Japan.
Mahama noted that Africa seeks win-win partnerships with all nations, but trade and investment will not come by wishful thinking.
“We wish to partner with any nation of the world on the basis of win-win. But let us not kid ourselves: 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, and that is why we must silence the guns and stop the fighting,” he stressed.
He further emphasized the need for bold reforms to strengthen economies, governance, and institutions.
“That is why we must reform our economies and make them more stable and predictable. And it is why we must reform our governance, ensuring that public service is accountable and free of corruption,” President Mahama said.
He expressed appreciation to Japan for its consistent support for Africa’s development, but insisted that Africa must move beyond dependency.
“We thank Japan for its unconditional support for Africa’s development, but as we emphasize here in Yokohama, we must move from handouts to leveraging our partnerships with countries like Japan to create concrete prosperity for all stakeholders.
“We can combine Japan’s technology and innovation with Africa’s natural resources and youthful, skilled human resources to generate growth and prosperity for all. TICAD 9 must mark the pivot where Africa changes the narrative and puts its house in order to earn a respected place at the global table.”
On global trade, President Mahama cautioned that recent tariffs and retaliatory measures have unsettled the global economy and could hurt long-term prosperity.
“We are holding TICAD-9 against the backdrop of a rapidly changing world trade order. Multilateralism is on the retreat, and countries are increasingly acting unilaterally in their relations with the rest of the world.
“The world’s largest economy, which should be the driver of global trade and investment, has become more insular and transactional in its outlook. The recent round of tariffs and retaliatory measures has shaken world trade and the global economy. The full effects of these trade wars will have ripple effects on global growth and prosperity for years to come,” he warned.
Mahama therefore urged African leaders to form stronger alliances to secure their place in the global economy.
“We must form a coalition of the willing to create alternative markets for sustainable global growth. 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.
“With the African Continental Free Trade Area, Africa has the potential to become a significant player in the global economy,” he added.
Mr. Mahama co-chaired the session with former Japanese Prime Minister Kishida Fumio, with interventions from Kenyan President William Ruto, Togolese leader Faure Gnassingbe, and South Africa’s Cyril Ramaphosa. The UN Under-Secretary General Cristina Duarte and Comoros President Azali Assoumani also delivered remarks.
