Ghana’s Minister of Foreign Affairs, Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa, has called for a renewed focus on value addition to Africa’s natural resources, stressing that the continent’s wealth must be harnessed to serve its people and uphold African dignity and pride.

Speaking at a Ghana–Zambia Dialogue in Lusaka, Ablakwa said Africa could no longer afford to remain a supplier of raw materials while its people failed to benefit fully from the continent’s vast resources. “It is time for value addition, and it is time to ensure that these natural resources serve the African people and project the dignity and the pride of our people,” he stated.

Addressing a gathering that included Presidents Hakainde Hichilema of Zambia and John Dramani Mahama of Ghana, government officials, business leaders, FinTech executives and members of the diplomatic corps, the Foreign Affairs Minister situ­ated his remarks within a broader Pan-African vision rooted in history, identity and economic cooperation.

Ablakwa referenced the symbolism of President Mahama’s preference for traditional Ghanaian attire, particularly the fugu, describing it as a deliberate effort to reclaim African identity, culture and dignity. He linked this cultural renaissance to the ideals of Ghana’s first President, Osagyefo Dr Kwame Nkrumah, and Zambia’s founding leader, Kenneth Kaunda, noting their shared vision of African unity and liberation.

He recalled that Ghana was the first African country to formally recognise Zambia’s independence in 1964, underscoring the longstanding ties between the two nations. According to him, those historical bonds should now translate into stronger economic collaboration, especially among African businesses and innovators.

Ablakwa urged African FinTech companies and business leaders to play an active role in deepening intra-African trade, including supporting logistics and transportation systems that would allow African products, fabrics and cultural goods to move easily across borders. He highlighted the Africa Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA), hosted by Ghana, as a major opportunity to unlock a market of about 1.3 billion people with a combined GDP exceeding 1.4 trillion dollars.

Ablakwa called on businesses and stakeholders to act with trust, loyalty and genuine Pan-Africanism, expressing confidence that a “new Africa” could emerge from such partnerships. He also conveyed President Mahama’s appreciation to the Zambian government for its hospitality and reaffirmed Ghana’s commitment to strengthening relations with Zambia.

Despite this potential, he noted that intra-African trade remains below 20 per cent, citing UNCTAD figures, and described this as the lowest among all global regions. He expressed hope that engagements such as the Ghana–Zambia Business Forum would help change that narrative.

The foreign affairs minister said both Presidents Mahama and Hichilema were focused on results rather than ceremonies, with expectations that such dialogues would lead to industrialisation, job creation and improved living standards. He stressed that the ultimate goal was to ensure prosperity for African people, so that no child goes hungry and no young person risks their life migrating in search of opportunities elsewhere.