Former President, John Dramani Mahama, has expressed the need for Africans to aim for a take-off to rapid growth and a double-digit growth.

According to him, this will spiral and propel the continent’s development. He revealed that with young people that have the right skills set, Africa should be moving to achieve that.

“Africans should aim for a take-off to rapid growth, a double-digit growth, and Africa’s breakthrough will be nearer. We are talking smart infrastructure, we are discussing the use of smart technology on our farms, and we are looking at how to build an effective digital economy that provides huge opportunities for entrepreneurship and businesses that serve the world from Africa.”
John Dramani Mahama

His Excellency, John Mahama, speaking at this year’s Africa Youth Day in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, shared his thoughts on Pan Africanism and how the leaders can address the challenges the continent and especially African youth continue to face in their efforts to realize a united, peaceful and prosperous Africa.

The former President stated that bringing the youth of the continent together, as has been done, to share experiences and whatever best practices they bring along from their individual countries is a very good start. He explained that it also provides them with a great networking opportunity, “something the continent needs in the quest to enhance the capacity and skills of our youth to utilize its untapped” potential.

“And I am looking forward to all the countries on the African continent allowing for visa-free entry by fellow Africans or an easier visa-on-arrival process. I started it in Ghana in 2016, Rwanda followed suit, later, Kenya, and I think we can all do it. That way, the benefits of the networking African youth are exposed to, can be enhanced with reciprocal visits to each other.”
John Dramani Mahama

H.E. John Mahama thanked Prime Minister, Abiy Ahmed, the government and people of the Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia for the consideration, the initiative and funding of the maiden edition of the Summit.

Relevance of African youth in development

In her opening remarks, Dr Monique Nsanzabaganwa, Deputy Chairperson of the African Union Commission, indicated that the African Union recognizes the youth population as a critical resource towards the development of the continent.

She stated that the Union seeks to empower younger generations to be resilient advocates of change towards addressing the challenges that they continue to face on the road to the Africa leaders desire.

“An intergenerational dialogue such as this one where our future African leaders are granted the platform and opportunity to engage with present and former leaders serves as a valuable platform for the empowerment of our young leaders who I implore to seize this opportunity to make your visions and expectations known.”
Dr Monique Nsanzabaganwa

Dr Nsanzabaganwa highlighted that the importance of young people as drivers of development cannot be overemphasized. She disclosed that they are the current and future leaders of Africa and without the focused and accelerated push towards their success, this potential demographic dividend will remain just that: only potential.

The Africa Prospective Leaders’ Summit 2022 brought together youth from 42 African Countries including Ghana.