Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo, président du Ghana

The President of the Republic of Ghana, Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo, says the objective of an integrated Africa cannot be achieved without peace and stability on the continent. With over 50% of Africa’s population under the age of 20, the President noted that African countries must create opportunities and jobs for the youth, or they risk becoming instruments of instability or targets of recruitment by terrorists.

He made this addressed at a High-level African union retreat on the “promotion of peace, security and stability in africa”, in Accra.

Recounting the story of the formation of the European Union (EU), Akufo-Addo mentionned that it should Africans, and hasten efforts towards integration. « If Europe, through the formation of the EU, was able to stop the vicious cycle of violence that had plagued them for centuries, leading them onto the path of advancement, wealth and prosperity for the majority of their peoples, Africa can no longer dither », he emphasized.

President Akufo-Addo further urged African leaders to recognize that the way forward is to implement regional and continental decisions, such as the Continental Free Trade Area Agreement, as, ultimately, the benefits are in everyone’s interest.

We must provide opur youth with access to education; we must transform the structure of our economies from raw material producing and exporting economies to value-added and industrialised economies, which will provide opportunities, jobs and hope to our young people to live dignified, productive lives,” he stressed.

With Ghana presidency

Voltic Togo