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Mahama hosts Heads of State Dialogue on financing African investments
President John Dramani Mahama has urged African nations to enhance domestic resource mobilisation to reduce reliance on external funding and to foster sustainable economic growth.
Speaking at a “Heads of State and Government Breakfast Dialogue” during the African Union (AU) Summit, Mahama emphasised the continent’s resilience in the face of ongoing challenges, forecasting a growth recovery of 3.7 per cent in 2024 and 4.03 per cent in 2025.
“This optimistic outlook underscores the robust nature of our economies and the success of our policy interventions,” stated President Mahama, the African Union’s Champion for Financial Institutions. The dialogue was on the theme, “Africa at the Forefront: Mobilizing African Investment and Financing for Implementing Agenda 2063.”
President Mahama hosted the event, organised in partnership with the Alliance of African Multilateral Financing Institutions (AAMFI)— often referred to as the African Club—and gathered esteemed officials from various multilateral organisations.
Notable attendees included Professor Benedict Oramah, Chairperson of the AAMFI and President of Afreximbank; Dr Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, Director General of the World Trade Organization (WTO); and Dr Donald Kaberuku, African Union High Representative for Financing of the Union and the Peace Fund.
President Mahama warned of significant hurdles facing the continent despite the encouraging economic forecast. “While we see positive trends, we must acknowledge that our growth hasn’t consistently translated into improved per capita incomes. Structural transformation remains uneven, with many economies reliant on low-productivity sectors,” he noted.
He emphasised the urgency of addressing a challenging financing gap estimated at approximately $402 billion annually until 2030.
“This gap is more than just a figure; it signifies the unrealised aspirations of countless Africans whose hopes for a better future hinge on our capacity to invest wisely in crucial areas like infrastructure, education, technology, and health,”he added.
In addition to financial constraints, Mahama pointed out other challenges, including climate issues, geopolitical tensions, and potential disruptions from diseases and pandemics. He stressed the importance of strategic investments in critical sectors and acknowledged the substantial financing gap needed to support these initiatives.
To bridge this gap, Mahama proposed a multifaceted strategy that encompasses strengthening domestic resource mobilization, improving tax administration, and mitigating illicit financial flows. He underscored the vital role of African multilateral financial institutions in supporting sustainable development and urged strengthening their capacity to advance Africa’s Agenda 2063.
“The establishment of institutions like the African Central Bank, African Investment Bank, African Monetary Fund, and the Pan African Stock Exchange is crucial for fostering necessary investments,” he stated.
“It is imperative for African countries to expedite the rollout of these institutions and leverage our collective strengths to fill the financing and investment voids.”
The president also envisioned a unified, prosperous, and peaceful Africa, affirming that such a vision is attainable if African nations effectively mobilise resources, reform financial systems, and invest in their populations.
Dr Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, the WTO’s Director General, echoed President Mahama’s sentiment, urging African leaders to curtail borrowing and seek innovative methods for attracting and retaining investments.
“We need to capitalise on investments flowing into Africa and ensure their sustainability for our development,” she noted, suggesting strategies such as enhancing the value added to natural resources and utilising pension funds to raise long-term capital.
The event also featured a high-level panel discussion focused on strategies for mobilising African finance to meet the objectives of Agenda 2063, reinforcing the dialogue’s commitment to achieving sustainable development across the continent.
ODORGONNO Senior High School (SHS) has won the maiden 2026 Senior High School Plastic Waste Reuse Innovation Awards, organised among five SHSs in Accra to promote plastic waste recycling and reuse.
Odorgonno SHS received a cash prize of GH¢8,000 after securing 97 points. Accra Senior High School placed second with 96 points and received GH¢4,000, while O’Reilly SHS placed third with 90 points and received GH¢2,000.
Forces Senior High Technical School placed fourth with 83 points, while St John’s Grammar SHS came fifth with 72 points. Both schools received GH¢1,000 each as cash prizes.
Outstanding students from the participating school clubs were also recognised with gold medals and certificates. St John’s Grammar SHS received five plastic recovery cages as the school with the highest volume of recovered plastic waste.
The awards formed part of the CSIR-Institute of Industrial Research (CSIR-IIR) Schools Plastics Recovery Project, an initiative aimed at promoting plastic waste recovery, responsible environmental practices and the productive use of recovered materials.
The project included educational campaigns in all five participating schools, the provision of metal cages for plastic source segregation, an educational excursion to a Miniplast recycling factory and a plastics challenge that encouraged innovative reuse of plastic waste.
The Project Lead and Senior Research Scientist at CSIR-IIR, Dr Boniface Yeboah Antwi, said the project demonstrated how young people could become active contributors to solving Ghana’s environmental challenges while providing financial incentives to sustain their efforts.
He said when schools generated income from recovered materials, they could support the maintenance of collection infrastructure, reinforce responsible waste management and instil an entrepreneurial mindset in students.
Dr Antwi explained that within the first month, the participating schools recovered 1.5 tonnes, or 1,500 kilogrammes, of plastic waste—equivalent to the weight of approximately 15,000 one-litre water bottles.
He said the recovery generated GH¢2,000 in revenue for the schools, demonstrating that plastic waste could become a source of value rather than an environmental burden.
The Group Head of General Operations at OmniBSIC Bank, Mr Dominic Donkoh, urged the participating schools to sustain their plastic waste segregation, collection and sales activities.
He said the proceeds could support school environmental clubs and other worthwhile initiatives while providing students with practical lessons in saving, budgeting and responsible financial management.
“We encourage students to apply the financial literacy lessons acquired during this engagement. Learn to manage the proceeds from your recycling activities responsibly, appreciate the importance of saving, and explore innovative ways to create both environmental and financial value,” he added.
–GNA
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Parents have been urged to prioritise girls’ education over early marriage to protect them from losing their childhood, education and opportunities for a better future.
The Sekondi-Takoradi Metropolitan Girl Child Coordinator, Madam Margaret Blay, said child marriage disrupted girls’ education, threatened their health and well-being, and limited their ability to realise their full potential.
“Keep her in school, not in a man’s house,” she urged parents, stressing the need for families and communities to protect girls’ right to education and personal development.
She made the call in a welcome address at the 2026 celebration of the International Day of the Girl Child in the Sekondi-Takoradi Metropolis, held under the theme: “End Child Marriage and Invest in Girls’ Rights.”
Madam Blay said ending child marriage required collective action from parents, teachers, traditional leaders, government institutions and communities to ensure that girls were protected and given the opportunity to pursue their aspirations.
She noted that child marriage often forced girls out of school before they were physically, emotionally and socially prepared for the responsibilities associated with marriage.
She said investing in girls’ rights was not merely a moral obligation but also an investment in the future of communities and the nation.
According to her, girls who remained in school, had their voices heard and received the necessary support could grow into leaders, professionals, innovators and active contributors to national development.
Madam Blay called on teachers to protect girls’ access to education, create supportive learning environments and empower them to express themselves confidently.
She also appealed to traditional leaders to help address harmful cultural practices and social norms that denied girls opportunities to develop their potential.
The government and relevant institutions, she said, must strengthen the enforcement of child protection laws to ensure that every girl received adequate protection.
She further urged communities to speak out against child marriage, report cases and work together to create safe environments where girls could learn, grow and thrive.
Madam Blay said every girl deserved the freedom to dream, acquire an education and determine her own future.
She expressed the hope that the celebration would strengthen stakeholders’ collective resolve to end child marriage and invest in the rights, education and future of every girl.
Madam Karen Ama Moses, Assembly Member for the Takoradi Railway and Harbour Electoral Area, said keeping girls in school would lead to enlightened mothers, well-informed families, resilient communities and, ultimately, a better Ghana.
She stressed that no child should be forced into marriage, adding that “every child must have the freedom to learn, grow, dream and choose her future.”
Some of the schoolchildren expressed concern that their parents did not always listen to their concerns during difficult times, while others said some children were exposed to abuse and early marriage.
Madam Henrietta Quabu, the Metropolitan School Health Coordinator, urged children experiencing abuse or any situation that threatened their well-being to report to the police, the Department of Social Welfare, the media, their teachers or the Metropolitan Education Directorate for assistance.
— GNA
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