African leaders have issued strong and forward-looking declarations on Africa’s future, urging a
decisive shift from dependency to investment-led prosperity, while affirming that the continent
is already on an irreversible path of growth and global relevance.
Speaking in Accra at the 4th Edition of the African Heritage Awards, the President of Ghana, H.E.
John Dramani Mahama, reinforced the call for a paradigm shift in how Africa manages its
resources and engages with the global economy. He warned that the changing global order, which
is marked by declining humanitarian assistance and shifting geopolitical priorities, demands a new
strategy from African nations.
“Africa cannot sit with cup in hand and go begging,” President John Dramani Mahama, who was
Special Guest of Honour and Chief Host of the event, stated firmly, stressing that the continent
must leverage its God-given natural resources, including gold, lithium, oil, and gas, to build
sustainable prosperity for its people.
The President criticized past models that allowed vast resource concessions to benefit foreign
interests while leaving local populations in poverty, noting that such arrangements are becoming
obsolete. “Those days of huge concessions gifted to foreign companies are coming to an end,” he
said.
President John Dramani Mahama pointed to the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) as
a key instrument for driving intra-African trade and economic integration, noting early signs of
progress despite implementation challenges. He also emphasized the importance of leadership,
unity, and strategic collaboration across the continent, asserting that Africa possesses the human
capital and intellectual capacity needed to transform its fortunes.