On Thursday, October 1, Ambassador Harold Adlai Agyeman, Coordinating Director for Political and Economic Affairs at Ghana’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs, delivered a keynote at the official launch of DW’s Under the Baobab programme in Accra. He warned that Africa’s collective economic strength, estimated at about US$3.5 trillion, remains largely untapped if the continent stays fragmented.
Agyeman highlighted the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) as a pivotal step toward strengthening intra‑African trade, noting that intra‑continental trade surpassed US$220 billion in 2024 and is still on the rise. He argued that such integration unlocks opportunities for growth, jobs and improved public services.
Addressing unemployment and service gaps, the ambassador said, “If you’re having challenges with unemployment, you’re having challenges with poor public services and things of that nature, it is not by shutting out yourself or your nation that those issues get resolved.” He added that collaboration and integration create the conditions for prosperity.
Linking economic integration to migration, Agyeman dismissed the narrative that migrants fuel unemployment or strain services. He called on media and stakeholders to challenge fears that target migrants, reminding listeners that migration has historically driven Africa’s development.
“Africa is a very young continent,” he said. “For many young people here, it’s through migration, through integration, that we can ensure that we can live the aspirations of the life that we want.” The ambassador praised DW Africa and Channel One TV for fostering dialogue on migration, xenophobia and belonging as essential to the continent’s trajectory.
Looking ahead, Agyeman urged African governments to foster a shared identity that drives prosperity, peace and stability across the continent, emphasizing that deeper integration is the path to unlocking the continent’s full potential.
