Aliko Dangote and President Ruto Join President Mahama at UNGA 81 to Champion African Economic Integration and Youth Mobility

Africa’s richest man, Aliko Dangote, has hailed President John Dramani Mahama for orchestrating a remarkable turnaround of the Ghanaian economy, asserting that the restoration of investor confidence is a direct result of leadership rather than luck. Speaking at the 'Accra Reset' meeting during the 81st United Nations General Assembly in New York, Dangote highlighted Ghana’s recovery from recent economic turbulence, noting that inflation has plummeted from a peak of 54.1% to single digits, while the cedi has strengthened significantly against the US dollar. 'Money follows trust,' Dangote remarked, emphasizing that the private sector is increasingly drawn to Ghana due to the macroeconomic stability established under the Mahama administration.

Beyond Ghana’s domestic progress, Dangote used the high-level forum to advocate for a visa-free Africa, arguing that current travel restrictions are a primary bottleneck for trade and industrialization. He questioned the necessity of visa barriers that impede legitimate business activities and called for reforms that facilitate the free movement of people and goods. Underlining his commitment to the continent, Dangote announced a $46 billion investment plan for Africa by 2030. He urged African leaders to leverage the continent’s youthful population and prioritize African-owned industrialization to ensure long-term resilience and growth.

Adding to the momentum of regional collaboration, Kenyan President William Ruto launched 'MasterKey,' a digital wallet initiative piloted in Kenya, Ghana, and Rwanda. This digital skills passport allows individuals to share verified records of their qualifications and work experience across borders, aiming to facilitate 150,000 job placements across the participating nations. President Ruto emphasized that this initiative empowers youth by making their skills portable while giving employers access to trustworthy, verifiable data. The program is designed to enhance job mobility within Africa, ensuring that qualifications earned in one country are recognized and valued in another.

In a parallel session hosted by the Open Society Foundation, President Mahama reinforced these themes of regional development by calling on African nations to strengthen their institutional and financial capacities. He urged leaders to align their national strategies with the African Union’s Agenda 2063 to create a long-term framework for youth opportunity. By focusing on institutional reform, digital innovation, and the removal of trade barriers, President Mahama and his counterparts at the UNGA signaled a collective drive to transform Africa into a unified, prosperous trade hub that can effectively respond to evolving global challenges.