President John Dramani Mahama has called on African leaders to urgently invest in skills development, deepen regional cooperation, and strengthen domestic production to keep the continent competitive in a rapidly changing global economy.
Speaking at the Accra Reset Davos Convening on Thursday, January 22, Mr Mahama warned that Africa risks falling behind if it fails to innovate, especially at a time when its youthful population is growing increasingly impatient for jobs and economic opportunity.
He said the continent’s first priority must be skills development that responds directly to real economic needs. According to him, governments must move beyond traditional education models and focus on digital skills, green energy, and manufacturing to enable young people to actively build economies rather than simply consume.
Mr Mahama also stressed the importance of regional collaboration, noting that no single African country can successfully industrialise on its own. He called for the creation of regional manufacturing hubs, shared energy grids, and integrated digital infrastructure to give African businesses the scale they need to compete and provide workers with broader access to jobs.
On Africa’s engagement with the global economy, he urged countries to negotiate as a bloc on key issues such as minerals, trade, and climate finance. He argued that fragmented negotiations weaken Africa’s bargaining power, while unity strengthens its voice and influence on the global stage.
The former President further highlighted the need for stronger domestic production, insisting that Africa must manufacture critical goods such as vaccines, semiconductors, and solar panels to reduce dependency and build economic resilience. He described industrial policy not as outdated, but as essential for survival in today’s global economy.
“From vaccines to semiconductors to solar panels, if we don’t make it, we’ll always be dependent on someone who does. Industrial policy isn’t old-fashioned. It is what will make us survive,” he said.
Mr Mahama also linked economic transformation to good governance, stressing that Africa cannot attract sustained investment if corruption, waste, and weak systems are tolerated.
“We cannot ask the world to invest in us if we tolerate corruption, waste, and systems that don’t work. Reset means reform. And reform means results,” he added.