President John Dramani Mahama has said Africa’s greatest challenge today is not political freedom, but economic emancipation.
Speaking in Zambia’s Parliament on Thursday, February 5, 2026, Mahama said African countries must shift their focus to building resilient economies that create prosperity for citizens.
He warned that the global environment is changing rapidly, with traditional sources of support shrinking and international systems under pressure, leaving African countries exposed.
“Our forebears won us independence and nationhood. Now we must win the fight for economic transformation and prosperity for our people,” he said.
Mahama noted that Africa is facing a difficult moment, as humanitarian assistance declines, official development support reduces, and defence spending rises across the world.
READ: From a debt-distressed economy, we’ve achieved an impressive turnaround – Mahama
He argued that these shifts have highlighted deep weaknesses on the continent, including high youth unemployment, fragile health systems, and economies that continue to export raw resources without building strong local capacity.
“Africa, therefore, faces a different pandemic—the pandemic of unfulfilled potential,” he stated.
Mahama called for practical leadership and deliberate reforms that prioritise industrial growth, inclusive development, and long-term prosperity for Africans.
Source: Starrfm.com.gh
