Mahama Urges Global Investors to See Africa as a Land of Opportunity
John Dramani Mahama has called on global investors to rethink long-held perceptions of Africa, urging them to view the continent as a destination for opportunity rather than risk.
Speaking at the 12th Africa Debate in London, Mahama said Africa is emerging as a key driver of future global growth, powered by its youthful population, expanding markets and accelerating urbanization.
“Africa is not a risk to be managed. Africa is an opportunity to be seized,” Mahama said during his address,
adding that Africa's transformation is being driven by innovation, economic reforms and stronger regional cooperation.
The Ghanaian president also highlighted Africa's strategic role in the global clean energy transition, noting that the continent possesses significant reserves of lithium, cobalt, manganese, bauxite and rare-earth elements needed for renewable energy technologies.
He said these resources position Africa as a future hub for green industrialization, giving the continent a competitive advantage in the evolving global economy. Mahama argued that Africa should no longer be viewed through the lens of aid and dependency but as a region capable of driving global economic growth.
Calling for stronger partnerships, Mahama urged investors to move beyond traditional extractive business models and embrace collaborations built on equality, innovation and shared prosperity.
Highlighting Ghana's role as a regional investment gateway, the president said the country is positioning itself as a destination for manufacturing, finance, innovation and regional trade. Quoting Ghana's founding president, Kwame Nkrumah, Mahama concluded that the time to invest in Africa is now as the continent prepares to play an increasingly influential role in the global economy.