The Chief Finance Officer (CFO) of MTN Ghana, Antoinette Kwofie, has made a strong call for African nations to unite in their economic strategies to attract capital and drive infrastructure development.
Speaking at the 2025 Africa Prosperity Dialogues (APD), Kwofie emphasized the importance of harmonizing regulations and operationalizing the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) to facilitate trade, investment, and sustainable growth across the continent.
Participating in a panel discussion on the theme “Filling the Funding Gap for Infrastructure,” Antoinette Kwofie underscored the need for African countries to work together as a single economic bloc rather than as fragmented entities.
“As Africans, we need to start thinking as one unit. Success can be achieved by playing as a team. So, we need to start thinking about how we can collaborate across the different countries we have on the continent and operate seamlessly as one unit. Bring our ideas and funds together and fund projects across the continent.”
Antoinette Kwofie
Kwofie stressed that Africa’s infrastructure deficit can only be resolved through collective effort and strategic funding mechanisms. She highlighted that many challenges in infrastructure development stem from inconsistent regulatory frameworks and barriers that prevent seamless trade and investment.
“We need to stop thinking as 54 different countries. We need to operationalize AfCFTA, we need to harmonize regulations, we need to remove trade barriers, we need to create an incentive for Africa to invest in Africa.”
Antoinette Kwofie
Harnessing Human Capital for Africa’s Growth
Beyond infrastructure and trade policies, Kwofie pointed out that Africa’s transformation also hinges on developing human capital. She noted that investing in skills—particularly in technology and innovation—will be crucial in shaping the continent’s future.
“Human capital is one of the things we need to get absolutely right if we want to achieve transformation on the continent. Investing in human capital, not just for the technical skills but for the technological skills amongst others.”
Antoinette Kwofie
Africa is home to a wealth of talent, yet many businesses and governments continue to rely on external technological solutions. According to Kwofie, this approach needs to change, and local expertise should be prioritized in solving Africa’s challenges.
“We tend to buy technology from the West when we have so much talent on the continent. MTN has a group of software developers, and they are all Africans developing technology for Africa’s future. It is possible.”
Antoinette Kwofie
Her remarks align with the broader vision of creating self-sufficient economies across Africa, where local innovations drive growth rather than dependence on foreign solutions.
MTN Ghana’s Commitment to Economic Growth and Digital Transformation
As a leading telecommunications company in Africa, MTN Ghana continues to support initiatives that foster economic development, digital transformation, and infrastructure expansion. Kwofie reaffirmed MTN’s dedication to investing in digital innovation and connectivity to help bridge the infrastructure gap on the continent.
MTN Ghana has already played a critical role in improving digital access across the country, with projects aimed at expanding broadband infrastructure, supporting fintech solutions, and enhancing mobile connectivity in underserved communities.
The Africa Prosperity Dialogue, organized by the Africa Prosperity Network (APN), serves as a platform to drive deeper economic integration among African states. The 2025 edition focused on outlining industrialization priorities and implementing policies that will ensure the success of the AfCFTA.
The event attracted key government and business leaders, including Ghana’s Vice President, Naana Jane Opoku-Agyemang, Dr. Nkosazana Dlamini Zuma, Chairperson of the APN Advisory Council, Stephen Blewett, CEO of MTN Ghana, Gwen Mwaba, Managing Director of Afreximbank, and Marie-Laure Akin-Olugbade, Senior Vice President of the African Development Bank (AfDB). Their discussions centered on removing trade barriers, fostering regional collaboration, and creating financing mechanisms for large-scale infrastructure projects.
Antoinette Kwofie’s remarks at the APD highlight the urgent need for African nations to shift their mindset from individual competition to collective progress. By harmonizing regulations, operationalizing AfCFTA, and investing in human capital, Africa can unlock its full economic potential and achieve long-term prosperity.
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