President Mahama champions economic emancipation, vows AfCFTA push for Caribbean

President John Dramani Mahama has called for stronger economic cooperation between Africa and the Caribbean, declaring that economic emancipation has become the next major challenge confronting Ghana, Jamaica and other African nations following the successful struggle for political independence.

Speaking at the Special High-Level Reparation Dialogue at the University of the West Indies (UWI) Regional Headquarters on Monday, August 3, 2026, President Mahama said Africa and the Caribbean must deepen collaboration to achieve sustainable economic growth, create jobs and improve the living standards of their people.

The event formed part of the President's four-day state visit to Jamaica from August 2 to August 5, 2026, during which he has held bilateral engagements focused on trade, reparations, culture and South-South cooperation.

President Mahama noted that while African nations had secured political independence decades ago, the continent's greatest challenge today is building resilient economies capable of delivering prosperity for citizens.

He reflected on the historical relationship between Ghana and Jamaica, highlighting the influence of Jamaican Pan-African icon Marcus Garvey on Ghana's first President, Dr. Kwame Nkrumah, and the role Pan-African ideals played in Africa's liberation struggle.

I'm happy to have come to Jamaica. We all know the relationships that have existed between Ghana and Jamaica. Indeed, our first president, of blessed memory, had always written and spoken about Marcus Garvey and the influence he had on him," President Mahama said.

While describing political liberation as a historic achievement, he stressed that the focus must now shift towards economic transformation.

Today we're faced with a new fight. The battle that confronts us now is not the battle for liberation—we're independent anyway. The battle that confronts us is how we can cooperate to increase our economic development and create prosperity for our people. The battle now is the battle for economic emancipation."

As part of his vision for strengthening Africa-Caribbean relations, President Mahama announced plans to advocate for the inclusion of Caribbean nations in the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) once he assumes the position of Chairperson of the African Union next year.

Speaking during a joint press conference with Jamaican Prime Minister Dr. Andrew Holness, the President described the proposal as a strategic initiative that could significantly deepen economic integration between Africa and the Caribbean.

He argued that extending AfCFTA to Caribbean Community (CARICOM) member states would create new opportunities for trade, investment, industrial partnerships and economic cooperation while reinforcing the historic cultural bonds between the two regions.

President Mahama cautioned that stronger trade relations would not happen automatically but would require sustained commitment from governments and the private sector.

He emphasised the importance of investing in transport infrastructure, logistics and market access to facilitate increased commercial exchanges.

With regards to trade, we don't kid ourselves that you snap your fingers and suddenly our trade volumes will go up. We need to work at it. One way is to put in the infrastructure and the logistics. The second is to expand the trade area."

He reiterated that broadening the scope of the AfCFTA to include Caribbean economies would be a major step toward unlocking the full economic potential of Africa's partnership with the region.

The African Continental Free Trade Area, which officially came into force in 2021, is currently the world's largest free trade area by the number of participating countries, covering African Union member states.

If expanded to include CARICOM countries, it would represent one of the most significant developments in Africa-Caribbean economic cooperation in recent decades.

President Mahama's visit to Jamaica has also featured high-level bilateral discussions with Prime Minister Andrew Holness on trade, cultural exchange, education, investment and South-South cooperation.

The engagements also form part of broader African Union–CARICOM efforts to advance the global campaign for reparations for the transatlantic slave trade while strengthening political and economic ties between Africa and the Caribbean.