By Adnan Adams Mohammed
President John Dramani Mahama has issued a stirring call to action for African leaders, demanding the immediate dismantling of structural financial barriers that force African nations to rely on third-party currencies like the U.S. Dollar for intra-continental trade.
Speaking on Sunday, February 15, at the “Accra Reset’s Addis Reckoning” forum held on the sidelines of the 39th African Union (AU) Assembly the President argued that meaningful economic integration remains a pipe dream as long as a business in Accra must convert Cedis into Dollars just to pay a supplier in Nairobi.
The Currency Barrier
President Mahama threw his full weight behind the Pan-African Payment and Settlement System (PAPSS), describing it as an initiative “whose time has come.”
He echoed concerns frequently raised by the Secretary-General of the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA), Wamkele Mene, regarding the “currency conversion tax” that drains African businesses.
“I should be able to ship my goods to Kenya and get paid in Cedis rather than a foreign currency,” the President stated. “The Pan-African payment and settlement system is a thing whose time has come and with urgency.”
Logistics Catching Up to Policy
While critical of financial delays, the President was optimistic about the continent’s physical integration. He pointed to the “Accra Reset” agenda as a blueprint for removing dependencies and praised the private sector for leading the charge in logistics:
● Aviation: He lauded ASKY Airlines for its West African connectivity and Ethiopian Airlines for its expansive continental network.
● Maritime: He highlighted new reefer vessels redistributing cargo between Dakar and Douala, alongside a proposed ferry system intended to link Accra, Lagos, and Monrovia.
“Once supply and demand are in place, the logistics will follow,” he observed, noting that the infrastructure for a unified market is finally beginning to mirror the continent’s political ambitions.
The “Addis Reckoning”
The President’s tone shifted to one of blunt urgency when addressing the pace of bureaucratic reform. He warned that Africa often acts as if “time is waiting for us,” leading to a gap between high-level policy frameworks and ground-level reality.
“This is the Addis reckoning,” Mahama declared to the gathered delegates. “From Addis, we must stop talking and start implementing.”
The President concluded by reminding international participants that a prosperous, integrated Africa is not just a continental win but a “shared global benefit,” strengthening the world’s economic stability as a whole.
