Mahama Urges African Leaders to Silence Guns and Reform Economies to Attract Investment
President John Dramani Mahama has urged African leaders to prioritise peace, economic reforms, and accountable governance as the foundation for attracting sustainable investment to the continent.
Speaking at the ninth Tokyo International Conference on African Development (TICAD 9) in Tokyo, Japan, on Thursday, August 21, 2025, President Mahama said Africa cannot rely on goodwill alone to transform its economies. Instead, governments must create the right environment for trade and business through deliberate reforms.
“While partnerships such as what we are forging here at TICAD 9 are important, a lot of the responsibility rests on the shoulders of African leaders to create an environment that is conducive to trade and investments,” he said.
He stressed that Africa’s partnerships with the international community must be based on mutual benefit, but added that investment will not flow merely on the back of good intentions.
“We must not kid ourselves. Trade and investment will not come to Africa merely because we wish it. We must undertake the hard and necessary reforms to make Africa an attractive destination for investment,” Mahama stated.
The president emphasised that peace and stability remain crucial, cautioning that armed conflicts, weak governance systems, and corruption continue to drive away investors.
“That is why we must silence the guns and stop the fighting. That is why we must reform our economies and make them more stable and predictable. And it is why we must reform our governance and make public service accountable and free of corruption,” he added.
President Mahama concluded by reminding his peers that Africa’s future lies in its own hands, and only leaders prepared to make bold choices will position the continent as a credible global investment hub.
