Ghana's Vice President, Professor Jane Naana Opoku-Agyemang, has urged African nations to take greater ownership of the continent’s development and narratives. She emphasized the need for African-led solutions to African challenges.
Professor Opoku-Agyemang stated Africa must move beyond implementing externally designed solutions. Instead, the continent must build its own institutions, expertise, and capacity. This will allow Africa to determine its own future effectively.
This call aligns with broader discussions across Africa regarding economic sovereignty and self-reliance. Many African leaders advocate for policies that prioritize local content and reduce dependence on foreign aid or imported solutions. This shift aims to foster sustainable growth and resilience against global economic shocks.
The Vice President made these remarks in Kigali, Rwanda. She participated in the inaugural Africa Mindset Reset Forum. The African School of Governance organized this significant event.
Professor Opoku-Agyemang joined a high-level panel at the forum. Rwandan President Paul Kagame, former Ethiopian Prime Minister Hailemariam Dessalegn Boshe, and former South African President Thabo Mbeki were also on the panel. Their collective presence underscored the importance of the discussions.
Understanding Africa’s history is critical to shaping its future, according to the Vice President. She stated Pan-Africanism was founded on the conviction that Africans could work together. This conviction must remain at the heart of current development efforts.
She further encouraged the African School of Governance to prioritize research. This research must be rooted in Africa’s realities. It should develop solutions that directly respond to the continent’s development needs.
Education must prepare young people not merely to participate in the future. It must equip them with knowledge, skills, and confidence to shape it. This focus on education is vital for building future capacity.
The Vice President also called for greater attention to bureaucratic bottlenecks. Institutional challenges continue to slow development across the continent. Addressing these issues is crucial for progress.
Policies and institutions must ultimately be measured by their ability to improve citizens' lives. This is especially true for people who have historically had fewer opportunities. This emphasizes an inclusive approach to development.
Professor Opoku-Agyemang concluded that Africans must increasingly ask where Africa ought to be. They must also determine what it will take to get there. Each person must be prepared to contribute to making that future possible. The forum provided an opportunity for candid reflection on the continent’s history and development trajectory.