President John Dramani Mahama has called for increased long-term financing to drive Africa’s industrial growth, urging countries across the continent to move beyond exporting raw materials
Speaking at the African Trade Summit 2026 in Accra on Wednesday, January 28, 2026 President John Mahama pointed out that African’s mobilization depends on domestic resources through improve revenue collection, stronger financial management against illicit financial flows.
He added that “political freedom without economic transformation is incomplete” stressing that Africa can no longer rely on economic model that confines the continent to exporting raw materials and importing finished goods.
He noted that Africa’s persistent dependence on raw exports continues to limit economic progress, stressing the need for better access to long-term financing and stronger domestic revenue mobilization to support industrial expansion.
“In Ghana we are delebrating shifting from a commodity export model to a value added economy, prioritizing agro- processing manufacturing and industrial clusters that are aligned with our natural advantage.
He further mentioned that these shifts are necessary to end structural inequalities in global trade.
“We must break colonial mode of large foreign own concessions extracting value for the benefits of foreign interest and entities whiles Africa remains in poverty,” his excellency emphasized.
Source: Ernest Kelvin Okanta
