African leaders have intensified calls for a strategic shift away from aid dependence toward investment-driven growth, underscoring the need for the continent to harness its vast resources and strengthen economic integration to secure long-term prosperity.
Speaking at the 4th Edition of the African Heritage Awards in Accra, John Dramani Mahama, Ghana’s President, cautioned against continued reliance on external assistance, stressing that changing global dynamics demand a new approach from African nations.
According to a statement signed by Moses Siloko Siasia, Convener of the AfriHeritage Awards, Mahama noted that declining humanitarian support and shifting geopolitical priorities make it imperative for Africa to take charge of its economic future. According to him, the continent must leverage its abundant natural resources, including gold, lithium, oil, and gas, to drive sustainable development.
“Africa cannot sit with a cup in hand and go begging. Those days of huge concessions given to foreign companies are coming to an end,” Mahama stated, urging governments to adopt policies that prioritise value creation and local benefits from resource exploitation.
He also criticised past economic arrangements that favoured foreign interests at the expense of local populations, describing such models as outdated and unsustainable.
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Mahama identified the African Continental Free Trade Area as a critical tool for unlocking intra-African trade and accelerating economic transformation. While acknowledging implementation challenges, he pointed to early progress and called for stronger collaboration among African countries to maximise its impact.
Echoing similar sentiments, Akinwumi Adesina, former President of the African Development Bank, declared that Africa is no longer a continent of potential but an investable reality.
Delivering a data-driven assessment of Africa’s economic outlook, Adesina projected that the continent would record about 4.2 percent GDP growth in 2026, maintaining its position among the fastest-growing regions globally over the next four years.
“Africa is not just growing. Africa is compounding,” he said, highlighting the rise of globally competitive African enterprises across sectors such as energy, telecommunications, fintech, and digital payments.
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Adesina, however, noted a disconnect between Africa’s vast resource base and the level of global investment it attracts. Despite holding about 30 percent of the world’s critical mineral reserves, the continent continues to receive only a small share of global capital flows.
He described this gap as a mispricing of Africa, urging investors to reassess the continent’s true value and opportunities.
To address the challenge, he pointed to initiatives such as the Global Africa Investment Summit, designed to connect African assets with long-term institutional capital and shift financing models away from aid toward structured investments.
“This is not about aid. This is not about sentiment. This is not about charity,” Adesina emphasised, adding that the real question is whether the world is ready for an Africa that is already rising.
Also speaking, Seretse Khama Ian Khama, former President of Botswana, described Africa as a continent defined by resilience, innovation, and vast potential. He called for deeper unity, stronger cross-border collaboration, and sustained investment in the next generation of leaders.
In his remarks, Siasia, the convener of the awards, urged recipients to remain committed to promoting Africa’s image globally, while addressing persistent challenges such as leadership gaps, disunity, illegal migration, and brain drain.
He explained that the event, which honoured over 20 distinguished Africans, served not only as a celebration of excellence but also as a platform for reaffirming a shared vision of a self-reliant, prosperous, and globally competitive Africa.