KEY POINTS

• Mahama wants Africa to reduce dependence on aid and raw exports.

• He proposes local-currency payments and stronger trade systems with Russia.

• Agriculture, healthcare, energy and digital services are priority investment sectors.

Ghanaian President John Dramani Mahama has called on African countries to reduce their dependence on foreign aid and raw material exports, urging governments to pursue investment partnerships that promote local production, expand trade and create jobs.

He said the continent must adopt a new approach to international economic relations by prioritising long-term investments and ensuring that cooperation with foreign partners delivers sustainable benefits to African economies.

Mahama made the call at the third Russia-Africa Summit in Moscow, where he identified agriculture, agro-processing, healthcare, energy security and digital services as sectors with significant opportunities for cooperation between African and Russian businesses.

In a social media post on Thursday, October 29, 2026, the President said Africa was ready to strengthen commercial relationships with international partners and move beyond traditional aid-based arrangements.

Focus on investment and local production

Mahama said African governments must create an environment that encourages businesses from the continent and their international partners to invest in productive sectors.

He stressed the need to remove administrative bottlenecks that discourage investment and make it difficult for companies to establish and expand commercial operations.

“Our goal as Africa’s current leaders is to eliminate administrative bottlenecks and transform historic goodwill into robust, sustainable commercial ties,” he stated.

The President said stronger commercial partnerships would allow African countries to expand their productive capacity, improve trade relations and generate economic opportunities for their populations.

He also argued that cooperation with Russia and other global partners should go beyond diplomatic engagement to produce practical outcomes for businesses and communities.

Mahama seeks more balanced trade

The Ghanaian leader called for reforms to address trade imbalances and improve access for African products in international markets.

He said African businesses needed better opportunities to export their goods and compete internationally, adding that trade arrangements should create benefits for both sides.

Mahama proposed modernising trade settlement systems to make transactions between African and Russian companies easier.

Among the measures he suggested were the use of local currencies and integrated digital payment systems to facilitate cross-border business transactions.

He also identified improved access to market information, predictable product quality standards and reliable logistics as important requirements for expanding trade.

According to him, stronger cooperation between private sector operators would also help address existing barriers and make commercial relationships more balanced.

Agriculture, healthcare and energy among priority sectors

Mahama identified agriculture and agro-processing as important areas for investment, particularly in efforts to strengthen local production and expand the processing of agricultural commodities.

He also pointed to opportunities in healthcare, energy security and digital services, saying these sectors could support economic growth and create jobs across the continent.

The President maintained that Africa’s investment potential could benefit both African and Russian enterprises if businesses were encouraged to develop mutually beneficial partnerships.

“Africa is a continent of the future. Immense opportunities abound for mutual investment between African and Russian enterprises, particularly in agriculture, agro-processing, healthcare, energy security, and digital services,” he wrote.

His remarks form part of a broader push for African countries to strengthen their economic relationships with international partners while securing greater benefits from trade, investment and local production.