By: Ashiadey Dotse
President John Dramani Mahama has urged African governments to change their approach towards business growth by treating the private sector as partners instead of obstacles.
Speaking at the Private-Public Business Dialogue during TICAD-9 in Yokohama, Japan on Thursday August 21, 2025, President Mahama stressed that governments must create the right policies and frameworks that allow private businesses to thrive and contribute to national development.
“The public sector must see the private sector as partners and not an irritant,” he said, adding that over-regulation and restrictive policies have in the past stifled innovation and discouraged investment.
Drawing from his experience as a former Minister of Communications, President Mahama recalled how removing unnecessary licensing requirements for internet cafés in Ghana allowed the industry to expand rapidly, creating jobs and boosting access to technology. He argued that the same approach should be applied today to empower young innovators and entrepreneurs, particularly in Africa’s growing fintech sector.
He further noted that while the private sector is described as the “engine of growth,” governments have the responsibility of providing the “fuel” through stable policies, infrastructure, and an enabling environment for investment.
On Africa’s partnership with Japan, President Mahama called for a shift from aid to trade and investment, insisting that Africa must also play its part by promoting governance reforms, reducing corruption, and ensuring accountable leadership.
He highlighted the opportunities presented by the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA), which offers a market of 1.4 billion people, but cautioned that weak infrastructure and high freight costs still limit intra-African trade.
President Mahama also emphasized that Africa’s natural resources and youthful talent, combined with Japan’s innovation and technology, could drive sustainable economic transformation if given the right environment.
