Xenophobia undermines Africa’s progress – Mahama

By: Eugene Dogbatse Atsu
President John Dramani Mahama has called for renewed African solidarity, condemning xenophobic attacks across Africa has threatened the continent’s development and undermined efforts to build a more integrated region.

Addressing a town hall meeting in London, the President voiced concern over reports of attacks on Ghanaian in South Africa and recent repatriations involving African nationals.

“It’s sad to see some of the things happening on the continent,” Mahama told participants. “There’s no way any African country can achieve the kind of progress it needs without working with other countries,” he stressed.

The former African Union advocate for regional integration said African nations must recognize that their fortunes are interconnected and that sustainable growth can only be achieved through cooperation.

He pointed to the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) as one of the continent’s most ambitious initiatives aimed at fostering economic growth and strengthening relations among African countries.

“That is why we passed the African Continental Free Trade Area so that our people can move freely among themselves,” he said.

According to Mahama, the success of AfCFTA depends not only on the movement of goods and services but also on the willingness of Africans to welcome and support one another regardless of nationality.

“We must see ourselves as partners in development rather than competitors,” he said, emphasizing that Africa’s greatest strength lies in its unity.

He warned that acts of xenophobia risk reversing gains made toward continental integration and could discourage investment, trade, and labour mobility across Africa.

“The future of Africa lies in unity, not division,” Mahama stressed, calling on governments to safeguard the rights of foreign nationals and promote peaceful coexistence.

His remarks add to growing calls for stronger action against xenophobia as African nations work towards building a borderless market and a more connected future under the AfCFTA framework.