President John Dramani Mahama has called on African countries to deepen intra-African trade and investment, stressing that the continent’s future prosperity depends on stronger economic cooperation and confidence in its own potential.
Speaking at a state dinner held in honour of the President of Gabon, Brice Clotaire Oligui Nguema, at the Jubilee House in Accra, President Mahama said Africa must pursue homegrown solutions to its development challenges by strengthening partnerships among African nations.
He noted that the continent’s collective success would depend on its ability to work together, speak with one voice and build resilient economies driven by African-led initiatives.
“The Africa we seek is an Africa that trades more with itself, invests more in itself, and believes more deeply in itself and its capabilities,” President Mahama said.
He added that such a future would not be handed to the continent but must be deliberately built by Africans themselves through collaboration and shared commitment.
“That future will not be handed over to us. It must be built by us, together, block by block,” he stated.
President Mahama said Ghana remains committed to advancing regional economic integration through the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA), whose Secretariat is headquartered in Accra.
According to him, stronger economic links between West and Central Africa have the potential to unlock new opportunities for trade, investment, industrialisation and shared prosperity across the continent.
He said the discussions held with the Gabonese delegation reaffirmed the strong goodwill between the two countries and highlighted the immense opportunities for expanding cooperation in commerce, investment, sustainable resource management and innovation.
“Our shared resolve to expand commercial ties, promote trade and investment, foster innovation, share experiences in sustainable resource management and create greater opportunities for our people are not abstract ambitions,” he said.
“They are the building blocks of a partnership that will touch the lives of our people, open new doors and help shape a more confident Africa.”
President Mahama further emphasised that official state visits should go beyond the signing of agreements and memoranda of understanding, saying they also provide an opportunity to strengthen friendship, build trust and deepen people-to-people relations.
He expressed confidence that President Nguema’s visit marked the beginning of a stronger chapter in Ghana-Gabon relations and accepted an invitation to undertake a reciprocal state visit to Gabon at a mutually agreed date.
President Mahama concluded by calling for sustained African solidarity, saying stronger partnerships among African nations would be essential to achieving peace, prosperity and sustainable development across the continent.
