Mahama pledges support for Africa Prosperity Dialogues

President John Dramani Mahama, has declared his government’s full support for the vision and mission of the Africa Prosperity Dialogues (APD), an annual event organized by the Africa Prosperity Network (APN) in collaboration with the Africa Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) Secretariat.
The Africa Prosperity Dialogues aim to bring business and political leaders together to discuss and agree on implementable policies that will drive Africa’s single market and the continent’s development, thereby creating jobs for its growing youth population.

The APD 2025, held from Thursday, January 30, to Saturday, February 1, 2025, focused on assisting African countries in transitioning from a fragmented continent to an integrated one.
The event also sought to develop policies to support continental efforts in bridging infrastructure gaps and guiding coordinated actions among governments, business leaders, investors, and development partners for infrastructure development.
The three-day dialogue also highlighted key issues and recommendations that African nations must commit to implementing.
Presidential Address at APD 2025President Mahama reaffirmed Ghana’s dedication to the APD when he addressed two of his fellow heads of state, Faure Essozimna Gnassingbé, President of the Republic of Togo, and Azali Assoumani, President of the Union of Comoros, as well as other attendees of the “Presidential and Business Executives Dialogue,” the final session of APD 2025, held at the Accra International Conference Centre (AICC).
The theme for APD 2025, “Delivering Africa’s Single Market Through Infrastructure: Invest, Connect, and Integrate,” underpinned discussions on policies aimed at accelerating intra-African trade and establishing a vibrant single African market.
“It is a great honour to address this distinguished gathering of Heads of State, policymakers, and business leaders, all united by a common vision of a prosperous and self-sufficient Africa,” President Mahama remarked.
“This conference exemplifies our shared commitment to unlocking Africa’s full potential and ensuring that the continent occupies its rightful position in the global economic landscape.

“The decisions we make at this conference must not end in resolutions alone. We must act with urgency, determination, and a shared vision for prosperity. Let us rise to the occasion, break down the barriers that divide us, and build a strong, self-reliant, and globally competitive Africa,” he added.
Quoting Ghana’s first President, Dr. Kwame Nkrumah, Mahama emphasized, “The forces that unite us are intrinsic and greater than the superimposed influences that keep us apart. Let us embrace those forces and chart a new path for Africa’s economic transformation.”

AfCFTA Transit Guarantee Scheme
Wamkele Keabetswe Mene, Secretary-General of the AfCFTA Secretariat, announced the launch of the much-anticipated “AfCFTA Transit Guarantee Scheme” in 2025.
The scheme aims to facilitate seamless trade across the continent by ensuring that goods transported along the Abidjan-Lagos corridor and other regions are covered by a single transit guarantee, eliminating the need for multiple payments.
“This scheme will allow goods to move across regions, from the ECOWAS region to other parts of the continent, under one unified cost of transit guarantee,” Mene explained. He highlighted that the initiative represents a historic milestone in Africa’s trade integration efforts.

Urgent action on digital transactions
Dr. Nkosazana Dlamini Zuma, chairperson of the Advisory Council of the Africa Prosperity Network (APN), urged African nations to streamline digital transactions and use Ghana’s mobile payment platform as a benchmark.
She emphasized the need for a continent-wide mobile interoperability system, pointing out that fragmentation across African Union (AU) member states further complicates efforts to establish a harmonized digital ecosystem.
Dr. Zuma called on African nations to prioritize digital communication and financial platforms over the next five years by investing in broadband, expanding e-commerce, and using mobile platforms to unlock the potential of digital trade.

Key highlights and recommendations from APD 2025
The discussions at APD 2025 culminated in five key recommendations for African countries.

Logistics & transport
Africa’s infrastructure deficits significantly impede the free movement of people, goods, and services, with poorly maintained roads, a limited airline system, outdated railways, and inefficient ports driving intra-African trade costs up by 30-40%.
The conference recommended full implementation of the Single African Air Transport Market (SAATM) and the Yamoussoukro Decision to deregulate air services and liberalize intra-African transport systems.

Access to affordable and sustainable energy
The dialogue underscored the need for robust energy and renewable infrastructure to power industries and support digital economies.
With over 30 African countries experiencing regular power outages, delegates called for coordinated regional energy policies and the development of interconnected power grids.
The Grand Inga Dam was cited as a major potential solution to the continent’s energy crisis.

Continent-wide mobile system interoperability
Policy fragmentation across AU member states complicates the establishment of a harmonized digital ecosystem.
Delegates recommended prioritizing mobile payment interoperability, broadband expansion, and regulatory harmonization to unlock digital trade potential.

Social infrastructure
Business leaders urged increased investment in pharmaceutical production to reduce dependency on imports and enhance healthcare resilience.
The expansion of technology-driven healthcare delivery and the use of digital finance solutions, such as mobile payments and health insurance platforms, were also encouraged.

Financing infrastructure development
Africa needs a dedicated Infrastructure Fund to unlock $2 trillion in domestic capital from pension funds, insurance funds, and sovereign wealth funds.
To make this fund effective, governments must implement regulatory reforms, introduce risk mitigation tools such as blended finance and infrastructure bonds, and ensure transparency to build investor confidence.

Lighting of the Africa trade torch
The lighting of the Africa Trade Torch (ATT), an initiative of the Africa Business Council (ABC), was a key highlight of the event.
The ATT, which has been permanently moved to the Africa Prosperity Dialogues, was lit by President Mahama and his counterparts, President Faure Essozimna Gnassingbé and President Azali Assoumani, alongside several business leaders.
The ATT serves as a private sector initiative aimed at popularizing the AfCFTA among African businesses, particularly small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), women entrepreneurs, and the youth.
It symbolizes the private sector’s commitment to the operationalization of the AfCFTA and Africa’s trade integration.
The APD 2025 concluded with strong commitments from leaders and stakeholders to take immediate action in advancing Africa’s economic integration and infrastructure development.