President John Dramani Mahama has urged the international community to view Africa as the “next frontier” for trade and investment, stressing that the continent is open for business but must take responsibility for creating the right conditions to attract global capital.
He made this remark during his address at the Ninth Tokyo International Conference on African Development (TICAD 9) in Tokyo on Thursday, August 21, 2025.
President Mahama said Africa’s vast market of 1.4 billion people, coupled with the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA), positions the continent to become a major force in the global economy.
“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. Africa has the potential with the African continental free trade area to become a significant player in the global economy.”
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He emphasized, however, that investment will only flow if African leaders commit to bold reforms.
“While partnerships such as what we are forging here in TICAD 9 are important, a lot of responsibility rests on the shoulders of African leaders to create an environment that is conducive to trade and investment.
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. That is why we must reform our economies and make them more stable and predictable,” he said.
President Mahama called for a shift from dependency on aid to partnerships that create shared prosperity.
He noted that Africa must leverage its resources and human capital alongside Japan’s advanced technology and innovation to unlock sustainable growth.
He expressed optimism that TICAD 9 would mark a turning point where Africa redefines its role in the global order by embracing reforms and co-creating prosperity with global partners.
Source: Starrfm.com.gh
