Former President John Agyekum Kufuor has called for renewed and coordinated efforts to accelerate Africa’s transformation through strategic infrastructure development, job creation for young people, and deeper continental integration.
Speaking at a high-level meeting of members of the Africa Economic Forum (AEF) Advisory Board, the former Ghanaian leader stressed that infrastructure, particularly in energy and transport, remains central to unlocking the continent’s economic potential and improving its global competitiveness.
“We have talked about African unity for over 60 to 70 years, yet key areas like transportation still lag behind. We need to take a comprehensive look at Africa’s development and chart a clear path forward,” he stated.
Prez Kufuor noted that despite decades of dialogue around regional integration, significant deficits persist in critical sectors such as transport connectivity, which continue to constrain trade, mobility and economic expansion across African countries.
He emphasised that without modern and efficient infrastructure networks, efforts toward continental integration and economic growth would remain limited.
Highlighting Africa’s demographic trends, the former President underscored the urgency of creating sustainable employment opportunities for the continent’s rapidly growing youth population.
“In Ghana alone, about 60 percent of the population is youthful. They are better educated, tech-savvy, and ambitious. What they need are opportunities for meaningful employment,” he said.
He pointed to projections indicating that Africa will account for roughly a quarter of the global population within the next two decades, warning that failure to harness this demographic advantage could pose significant socio-economic risks.
He further urged policymakers across the continent to prioritise youth-focused development strategies as part of broader economic planning, arguing that inclusive growth would depend heavily on integrating young people into productive sectors.