Yokohama: President John Dramani Mahama on Thursday co-chaired the second plenary session on the 'Economy: Co-create Innovative Solutions with Africa' of the ongoing ninth Tokyo International Conference on African Development (TICAD) in Yokohama, Japan. A statement issued by Ghana's Presidency said President Mahama co-chaired the session with former Japanese Prime Minister Kishida Fumio, with interventions from Kenyan President William Ruto, Togolese leader Faure Gnassingbe, and South Africa's Cyril Ramaphosa.
According to Ghana News Agency, the UN Under-Secretary General Cristina Duarte and Comoros President Azali Assoumani also delivered remarks. In his concluding remarks, President Mahama said TICAD-9 is happening at a time of a rapidly changing world order.
President Mahama noted, 'The world's largest economy, which should be the driver of global trade and investments, has become more insular and transactional in its relationship with the rest of the world.' He advised African leaders and their people that 'Africa is open for business. We wish to partner with any nation in the world on a win-win basis. But let's not kid ourselves! Trade and investments will not come to Africa because we wish for it.'
According to President Mahama, 'Africa must undertake the hard but necessary reforms, as countries on the continent, to make Africa an attractive destination for investments.' He emphasized the need for Africa to silence the guns and stop the fighting, reform economies to make them more stable and predictable, and reform governance to make public service accountable and corruption-free.
