Africa Must Unite for Shared Prosperity – Ghana Vice-President Tells APD 2026

At the opening of the 2026 Africa Prosperity Dialogue (APD) in Accra, Ghana’s Vice-President, Professor Jane Naana Opoku-Agyemang, has urged African countries to deepen unity, strengthen cooperation, and accelerate continental integration to unlock shared prosperity for the continent.

Delivering a keynote address at the flagship event on Wednesday 4, 2026, Professor Opoku-Agyemang emphasized that Africa’s future economic success depends on collective action rather than fragmented national approaches.

She called on the continent to move from dependency to economic integration, ensuring that markets, people and resources are mobilized to benefit all Africans.

Highlighting the vital role of small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), women, and youth in driving growth, the Vice-President noted that these groups represent the backbone of Africa’s economy—yet their participation in cross-border trade remains limited.

She stressed that a prosperous Africa must intentionally empower these groups through improved access to finance, skills, and markets.

Professor Opoku-Agyemang urged African leaders to embrace the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) as a historic opportunity to expand intra-African trade, investment and mobility.

By reimagining borders as connectors rather than barriers, she said, Africa can harness the full potential of its single market vision.

The Vice-President also highlighted Ghana’s efforts to support the integration agenda, citing national initiatives such as the 24-Hour Economy policy and the Big Push infrastructure programme, which are geared toward boosting productivity, trade, and industrial development in alignment with regional and continental priorities.

Professor Opoku-Agyemang’s message reinforces the belief that Africa’s prosperity will only be realized through unity, mutual cooperation, and strategic policies that prioritize inclusive growth across all sectors of society.

Source:Joseph Wemakor