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Collaborate and work together to Improve Intra-African Trade – Osinbanjo to African Countries
Prof. Oluyemi Oluleke Osinbajo, former Vice President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria has urged African countries to collaborate, work together to improve intra-African trade.
He said this could be done by building infrastructure that connect the countries both digitally and physically.
He noted some of Africa’s accomplishments at the level of intra-African trade, stating that as much as 41 per cent of Africa’s machinery exports were traded within the continent.
Prof. Osinbajo also noted that 35 per cent of biopharmaceutical products and 30 per cent of industrial chemicals were already being traded as a measure of intra-African trade.
Speaking at the BOMA of Africa event on the sidelines of the Africa Union’s Mid-Year Coordinating Meeting held in Accra last Saturday, Prof. Osinbajo said it is in the best interest of Africa to improve trade among its member countries.
This year’s theme for BOMA of Africa, “From the Africa We Want to the Africa We Build,” encapsulates the essence of Africa’s journey. Through focused discussions on health, wealth creation, development financing, and governance, BOMA 2024 aimed to ignite new momentum towards realizing Africa’s continental aspirations. By spotlighting major projects and initiatives, the event aimed to foster a spirit of collaboration and determination.
Touching on Africa’s rich biodiversity, Prof. Osinbajo said the continent had high biodiversity reserves and the scale of natural capital to preverse centuries of ecological erosion and the unbridled carbon-laden industrialisation of yesterday.
Noting that there is a wave of brain drain that has hit African countries, Prof. Yemi Osinbajo, who previously served as Attorney General of Lagos State from 1999 to 2007, said Africa must create an environment that rewards the talents of its people to prevent movement of African labour to other continents.
“Labour is always going to find the place where it is best rewarded. Anywhere in the world, wherever labour is best rewarded, that’s where it’ll go. That’s why there are lots of movements all across the world. It’s, therefore, best for Africa to create the environment for rewarding talent,” Prof. Osinbajo said.
He said according to experts, as much as one quarter of the planet’s workforce was likely to be of African origin and of the youthful workforce in particular, as much as 42 per cent may be in Africa by 2050.
“according to him, an energetic pool of youthful talent fortified with fast-advancing artificial intelligence and the geoengineering edge of a world that is desperately in need of a new economic growth paradigm is an edge that the rest of the world ignores at great risk.”
“Integrate trade, digital transaction and work together to build a resilient, rich, prosperous economy and then people will stay and people will come from everywhere in the world to Africa. There’s no other solution,” he said.
With regards to Africa’s health development readiness, Prof. Osinbajo noted that during the pandemic, Africa, through the collaboration of Panavirus and the Africa CDC, brokered by AfroChampions, built and deployed the world’s first vaccine passport.
“The Panavirus platform digitally connected labs and hospital facilities, as well as pathogen genomic centres in 20 countries of Africa,” he added.
AUDA-NEPAD and AfroChampions, alongside other strategic partners, have hosted the annual BOMA of Africa event during African Integration Week since 2019. This year’s BOMA was aligned with the AU Mid-Year Coordination Meeting, further cementing its significance on the continent’s commemorative calendar.
The BOMA of Africa has become a premier platform for showcasing the continent’s most inspirational achievements in unity and integration.
Convened at the highest level, the event aims to move beyond discussions to concrete actions, inspiring Africans across various fields such as science, technology, education, the creative arts, and entrepreneurship.
The 2024 BOMA of Africa is a strategic milestone on the path to achieving the Africa We Want. AUDA-NEPAD and AfroChampions reaffirm their unwavering commitment to the goals of Agenda 2063, setting a precedent for accountability, innovation, and unity across the continent.
Ghana’s parliament has marked the 2nd edition of May Day 2026 under the theme “ Welcome Home”.
It was special day meant to celebrate the invaluable support of the workforce, recognizing the commitment, resilience, and contributions of workers to institutional growth and national development.
Delivering the message on behalf of the Speaker, the 1st Deputy Speaker, Bernard Ahiafor, described the theme as very apt, appropriate, and timely, noting that Parliament is more than a workplace, it is a shared home.
He emphasized that we cannot speak about work without speaking about people, reminding everyone that the true measure of our work is the well-being of our people.
He urged that our traditional clothing become an integral part of our everyday clothing, and that our local languages must become integral to our daily lives, interwoven into education and practiced at home.
Referencing Standing Order 63, which captures the use of local language as optional in deliberations, he encouraged a renewed commitment to identity, saying it is significant that we “come home” and present who we are so future generations can inherit a story they can fully tell.
The Clerk, Mr. Ebenezer Ahumah Djietror, in his remarks commended officers for their dedication and devotion to duty, calling on them to go the extra mile and leave legacies.
Echoing the reminder that an unexamined life is not worth living, he described the event as an invitation to reconnect with our roots through cultural revival.
The Deputy Clerk, C&FMS, Dr. Gloria Sarku Kumawu, urged all not to forget their roots, the people behind the stories of ministries, industries, and the strides made both in-house and beyond.
What began last year has now become a meaningful tradition, showcasing Ghanaian heritage, fostering unity, and encouraging innovation under the principle of diversity for unity and diversity for progress, she added.
The gathering brought together leadership, public officials, and staff across all levels, along with the media, standing as a unifying platform that honored service, celebrated culture, and reaffirmed a shared commitment to national development.
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Manhyia would serve as Ghana’s unifying force …Otumfuo assures on commemoration of 27 years on the Golden Stool
The Asantehene, Otumfuo Osei Tutu II, last Friday celebrated his 27th enstoolment with a colourful and culture-rich ceremony at the Manhyia Palace in Kumasi, drawing a distinguished gathering of dignitaries from across Ghana and beyond.
Clad in splendid kente and adorned in rich traditional regalia, the dignitaries added colour and elegance to the occasion, as the palace grounds came alive with a vibrant display of Ghanaian culture.
Traditional drumming, dancing and symbolic rites underscored the deep-rooted heritage of the Ashanti Kingdom, captivating guests and reaffirming the value of tradition in modern society.
Speaking at a high-level Executive Gala organised by the Diaspora Affairs Office of the Office of the President in strategic partnership with the E ON 3 Group, the ‘World-Meets-in-Ghana’ gala, the Asantehene urged Ghanaians to guard against the divisive tendencies of partisan politics.
The event was to honour the Asantehene’s nearly three-decade reign under the theme ‘Advancing Peace and Sustainable Economic Development through Royal Vision’.
Otumfuo Osei Tutu II noted that such attitudes threatened the country’s long-standing values of unity, civility and brotherliness.
He assured that Manhyia would continue to serve as a unifying force for the nation.
The celebration also featured the presentation of commemorative gold coins to notable national leaders, including the President, John Dramani Mahama, former Presidents John Agyekum Kufuor and Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo as well as Dr Mahamudu Bawumia, a former Vice President in recognition of their contributions to peace and national development.
By Spectator Reporter
