President Akufo-Addo has underscored the imperative of leveraging Africa’s vast natural resources to eliminate poverty on the continent. His remarks came during the second edition of the Africa Prosperity Dialogues held in Peduase on Thursday, January 26, 2024.
The President underscored Africa’s potential, citing its abundant oil, gas, minerals, ample sunlight, and a staggering 65 per cent of arable land capable of sustaining a global population of 9 billion by 2030. He expressed a vision of Africa transforming into a global powerhouse, leveraging its rich resource base and youthful demographic.
Addressing a keen audience, the President highlighted the readiness of the private sector for economic collaboration, particularly through the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA), and emphasized the pivotal role of economic integration.
He also stressed that fostering the free movement of people, goods, and services across the continent is indispensable for realizing the United Africa dream.
“We all know that Africa is blessed, Africa is not a poor continent, in fact, she is too rich to be poor. A continent that has every natural resource imaginable; oil, gas, minerals and an abundance of sunlight. We have some 65 per cent of all arable land available to feed 9 billion people globally by 2030 and our continent is filled with the most youthful population in the world –everything we need to transform Africa into a global powerhouse of the future,”
“I’m now encouraged that Africa now has a private sector that is ready, deliberate and eager to see that the 60-year-old dream of the United Africa manifests. The difference perhaps, of the then and today is that the focus is on an area where there can be no debate –economic integration.
“How we facilitate the free movement of people, goods and services across this vast and resourceful mass Africa is what we must devote our energies to.”
