President John Dramani Mahama has urged a fundamental shift from aid dependency to investment-led growth, saying Africa must proactively shape how global capital engages the continent in a rapidly changing global economy.
Speaking at the launch of the Global Africa Investment Summit in Dubai on Tuesday, February 3, 2026, President Mahama said the platform comes at a critical moment for Africa as traditional aid models decline and competition for global capital intensifies.
“Africa cannot afford to be a passive participant in this new global era. We must shape how the world engages with us, and most importantly, on our own terms,” President Mahama stated.
He praised the vision behind the summit, commending former President of the African Development Bank Group, Dr. Akinwumi Adesina, and Madame Marguerite Krauss for establishing what he described as a transformative global investment platform for Africa.
“The Global Africa Investment Summit has the potential to fundamentally change how global capital engages with Africa—at scale, with purpose, and for mutual prosperity,” he said.
President Mahama noted that the initiative aligns with Ghana’s broader economic philosophy, which he described as the “Accra Reset”, a policy shift focused on economic sovereignty, self-determination, and asset-driven development.
“Moving from aid to investment is not merely desirable; it is essential for sustainable development,” he emphasized.
Using Ghana as a case study, the President highlighted the country’s natural resource base as a strong foundation for attracting long-term capital if properly structured and governed. He said gold, Ghana’s largest natural asset, could generate billions of dollars annually to support infrastructure and industrialisation.
“We are Africa’s largest gold producer and among the top ten globally, with annual production exceeding five million ounces,” President Mahama noted.
He disclosed that reforms in the gold export sector were already yielding results.
“Gold volumes from our small-scale mining sector increased from 63 metric tonnes in 2024 to 104 metric tonnes within ten months, generating revenues of about 10 billion dollars,” he said.
President Mahama also highlighted Ghana’s position as the world’s fourth-largest producer of manganese and its significant bauxite reserves, stressing the government’s determination to move beyond the export of raw materials.
“We are determined not to remain exporters of raw materials. That is why Ghana has taken the bold decision to ban the export of raw mineral ore,” he announced.
According to the President, the Global Africa Investment Summit offers what global investors seek—well-structured, scalable platforms rather than isolated projects.
“Global capital does not chase isolated projects; it invests in platforms. What this summit provides is the architecture that allows Africa’s assets to speak the language of global capital,” he said.
President Mahama concluded that an investment-driven approach would enable African economies to attract long-term capital without unsustainable debt, while anchoring development in ownership and resilience.
“Through this summit, Africa decisively moves from an aid-driven narrative to an investment-driven future from dependency to ownership,” he said.
Ghana, he affirmed, fully supports the Global Africa Investment Summit and remains committed to working with international partners to unlock Africa’s vast economic potential.
Story: Patrick Asford Boadu
