In a powerful and forward-looking address to the Zambian National Assembly, former President of Ghana, John Dramani Mahama, delivered a message that resonated far beyond the walls of parliament: the future of the world lies in Africa.
His remarks were both a reflection on the continent’s immense potential and a call to action for African leaders to rise to the responsibility that history has placed on their shoulders.
President Mahama highlighted Africa’s unique demographic advantage, noting that the continent is home to the world’s youngest and fastest-growing population. At a time when many regions are grappling with aging populations and shrinking workforces, Africa’s youth represent a powerful engine for global growth, innovation, and productivity.
However, he cautioned that this demographic dividend can only be realized through deliberate investments in education, skills development, and job creation.
He also emphasized Africa’s vast natural resources, describing them not as a curse, but as an opportunity that has too often been mismanaged. From minerals and arable land to renewable energy potential, Mahama argued that Africa has everything it needs to industrialize and compete globally.
What remains essential, he stressed, is good governance, transparency, and value addition within African economies rather than the continued export of raw materials.
Addressing lawmakers in Zambia, Mahama praised the importance of regional cooperation and continental integration, pointing to the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) as a transformative project. He urged African nations to look inward, trade with one another, and build strong regional value chains that reduce dependency on external markets.
President Mahama also spoke candidly about leadership, reminding African leaders that the continent’s future will be shaped not by speeches but by decisions. He called for accountable governance, respect for democratic institutions, and policies that place citizens at the center of development. According to him, Africa does not lack ideas or talent; it lacks the political will to consistently do what is right for its people.
Mahama reaffirmed his belief that Africa’s moment is not decades away—it is already unfolding.
