By Ashiadey Dotse
President, John Dramani Mahama, has emphasized the need for Africa to prioritize peace, youth empowerment, and trade during his address at the African Union (AU) Institutional Reforms meeting in Kenya on Tuesday, January 27, 2025.
Speaking to a gathering of African leaders, Mr. Mahama stressed that without peace, development in Africa would remain a challenge. He called on the AU to strengthen its capacity to prevent, mediate, and resolve conflicts across the continent. This, he noted, should include properly resourcing the African Standby Force and forming strategic partnerships to tackle pressing threats such as terrorism, cybercrime, and climate-related displacement.
Highlighting West Africa’s ongoing struggle with terrorism, he remarked, “This is very important for us, especially in West Africa, considering the challenges we face from terrorism.”
Mr. Mahama also underlined the importance of empowering Africa’s youth and women to take up leadership roles. “Over 60% of our population is under the age of 25, yet their voices are largely absent in policy-making. We must institutionalize frameworks that empower our young people and our women to lead at all levels of governance,” he said.
He celebrated Ghana’s progress in this area, noting that for the first time in the country’s history, a woman had been elected as vice president. He described the energy, creativity, and vision of Africa’s youth as the driving force behind the continent’s future.
Turning to economic development, Mr. Mahama praised the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) for laying the foundation for a single African market. However, he stressed that more work must be done to remove trade barriers, harmonize regulatory frameworks, and invest in infrastructure to boost intra-African trade.
He also urged the AU to embrace digital transformation as a catalyst for economic growth. “We must expedite the African payment system that allows us to pay seamlessly for goods traded between our countries,” he said, calling for accelerated efforts to enhance trade and integration across the continent.
Mr. Mahama concluded by reiterating the importance of collective action to build a prosperous Africa driven by peace, youth empowerment, and economic innovation.
