“The vision of Africa as a single, integrated economic space remains unfinished” - Veep

“The vision of Africa as a single, integrated economic space remains unfinished,” Vice President Prof. Naana Jane Opoku-Agyemang has stated, stressing the urgent need for Africa to shift from dependency to self-reliance through deeper regional integration and inclusive growth.

Speaking on behalf of President John Dramani Mahama at the opening ceremony of the Africa’s Prosperity Dialogues 2026 at the Accra International Conference Centre in Accra, Prof. Opoku-Agyemang said Africa’s long-standing ambition of economic unity must move beyond aspiration to practical execution if the continent is to unlock shared prosperity.

She noted that despite significant progress, Africa remains constrained by fragmented markets, weak intra-continental trade, and structural dependence on raw material exports, trends that continue to limit job creation and industrial growth.

According to her, the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA), headquartered in Accra, provides a historic opportunity to reverse this trajectory by connecting African economies into a single market of about 1.3 billion people.

The Vice President emphasised that small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), which account for over 80 per cent of employment across Africa, alongside women and young people, must be placed at the centre of the continent’s transformation agenda.

She acknowledged the creativity and resilience of Africa’s youth and women entrepreneurs, while highlighting persistent barriers to finance, skills development, mobility, and cross-border market access.

Prof. Opoku-Agyemang called for stronger political leadership, coordinated policies, and sustained investment in infrastructure, technology, and skills to translate Africa’s vast potential into tangible economic gains.

She cited Ghana’s 24-Hour Economy Programme and Big Push infrastructure initiative as deliberate efforts to boost productivity, expand trade, and align national development priorities with those of ECOWAS and the African Union.

She urged participants at the Africa’s Prosperity Dialogues to focus on concrete commitments and implementation, noting that Africa’s future would be shaped not by speeches alone, but by actions that deliver jobs, industrial growth, and shared prosperity for its people.

Story by: Joshua Kwabena Smith