By Amoako Kwame
President John Dramani Mahama has described economic emancipation as the next major challenge confronting Ghana, Jamaica and other African nations, urging deeper cooperation to promote sustainable growth and improve the lives of citizens.
Speaking at a special high-level reparations dialogue at the University of the West Indies in Jamaica, President Mahama said that although political independence had been achieved, the focus must now shift towards building resilient economies capable of delivering prosperity for future generations.
He noted that the ideas and contributions of leading Pan-African figures played a crucial role in Africa’s struggle for independence and helped shape liberation movements across the continent.
Reflecting on the longstanding ties between Ghana and Jamaica, President Mahama highlighted the influence of Jamaican political activist and Black nationalist Marcus Garvey on Ghana’s first president, Kwame Nkrumah.
“I am 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, always wrote and spoke about Marcus Garvey and the influence he had on him,” he said.
According to the President, the historic struggle for political freedom has given way to a new challenge centred on economic advancement and development.
“Today, all that is history. But that was the fight for liberation,” he said.
President Mahama stressed that the longstanding relationship between Ghana and Jamaica should now be harnessed to create new opportunities for trade, investment and economic cooperation.
“But today, we are faced with a new fight, and that is why relationships such as these and visits like this are important. The battle before us is no longer the battle for liberation because we have attained independence. The battle we face now is how we can cooperate to accelerate economic development and create prosperity for our people. The battle now is the battle for economic emancipation,” he added.
