President John Dramani Mahama has urged African nations to strengthen domestic production and adopt bold industrial policies to reduce dependency and secure long-term economic resilience.
Addressing participants at the Accra Reset Davos Convening on Thursday, January 22, the former President said Africa must move beyond reliance on imports and take responsibility for manufacturing critical goods.
He cited vaccines, semiconductors and solar panels as strategic products the continent must begin producing locally if it is to withstand future global shocks.
“From vaccines to semiconductors to solar panels, if we don’t make it, we’ll always be dependent on someone who does,” President Mahama stated.
He rejected the notion that industrial policy is outdated, describing it instead as essential for Africa’s survival in a competitive global economy.
President Mahama further called on African countries to negotiate collectively on global matters such as mineral resources, trade agreements and climate finance. Fragmented negotiations, he warned, continue to weaken Africa’s bargaining power on the world stage.
He concluded by stressing that meaningful economic transformation must be supported by governance reforms.
“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 said.
