Africa's economic transformation will depend on the free movement of people, skills, and ideas across borders, according to Dr. Ishmael Yamson, a member of Ghana’s Presidential Advisory Group on the Economy. He made this assertion at the Kgalema Motlanthe Winter Seminar 2026 in Johannesburg, emphasizing that well-managed migration has historically been a major driver of economic growth and regional integration.
Dr. Yamson highlighted that for generations, traders across West Africa built thriving economic networks through cross-border movement. This occurred long before modern systems like passports, corporate banking, and digital payments existed. He cited the long-standing trade links between Ghanaian traders and Yoruba merchants as a prime example of how mobility, trust, and entrepreneurship fostered local economic development across the region.
This perspective fits into Ghana's broader economic narrative of seeking regional integration and expanded trade opportunities, particularly through the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA). Ghana has been a strong advocate for AfCFTA, aiming to leverage its position to boost intra-African trade and economic cooperation. The country's economic policies often focus on improving trade infrastructure and fostering an environment conducive to business across borders.
“Our task is therefore not to stop people from moving; our task is to ensure that Africa creates sufficient opportunities for its people, wherever they may choose to live and work,” Dr. Yamson stated at the seminar. He further noted that these historical movements did not just facilitate trade but also encouraged cultural exchange, settlement, skills transfer, and the creation of vibrant markets.
The implications of Dr. Yamson's statements are significant for policymakers across Africa. The success of AfCFTA will depend on more than just removing trade barriers; it also requires prioritising skills mobility, infrastructure development, digital connectivity, financial integration, and social cohesion. Decision-makers will need to focus on creating policies that facilitate the movement of human capital alongside goods and services to fully realise the continent's economic potential.
Dr. Yamson observed that intra-African trade currently remains significantly lower than comparable regions. He believes AfCFTA presents a historic opportunity to build a more connected and competitive continental economy. He stressed that no African country, regardless of its size, can achieve its full potential in isolation, given fragmented markets and large infrastructure gaps.
Addressing Africa’s youthful population, Dr. Yamson noted that 70% of the continent’s population is under the age of 30. He argued that this demographic advantage can only translate into prosperity if young people are equipped with the right skills and opportunities. Without investments in education, technical and vocational training, entrepreneurship, digital capabilities, and innovation ecosystems, this demographic dividend could become a challenge rather than an advantage.
He cautioned against blaming migrants for economic challenges, arguing that migration pressures often arise when people lack access to jobs, education, and economic opportunities. When young people have access to quality education, productive employment, entrepreneurial opportunities, reliable infrastructure, digital connectivity, and efficient markets, migration becomes a choice rather than a necessity. The Kgalema Motlanthe Winter Seminar, in partnership with MTN Group, brought together various stakeholders to explore how human mobility can support trade, investment, innovation, social cohesion, and continental integration.