Harakati delegates discuss African integration in Accra

Delegates representing universities from 17 African nations gathered in Accra for the fourth annual conference of the Harakati Za Muungano Union. The conference aimed to equip young leaders with the skills necessary to tackle issues such as economic restructuring, political reforms, and integration for sustainable development across the continent.

The conference was themed 'Economic Restructuring, Political Reforms and Integration for Sustainable Development in Africa'. Kwame Danquah, President of the International Secretariat of Harakati, emphasized the urgent need to remove physical colonial borders and trade barriers, as Africa's GDP stands at $3 trillion, representing only 3% of the world's $105 trillion, and having a mere 3% share in global trade.

According to the 2023 World Bank report, intra-African trade accounts for 15% of the continent's trade, compared to 60% in Europe and 40% in Asia. Danquah highlighted that Africa is heavily reliant on primary commodities for its exports, making the continent vulnerable to external shocks and protectionist trade practices. With Africa's population expected to reach 2.5 billion by 2050, the continent faces potential demographic traps due to increased pressure on urbanization, education, housing, health, and employment opportunities.

To tackle these challenges, Danquah argued that removing artificial barriers is essential to boost trade volumes and create a large pool of skilled workers to meet the needs of a rapidly growing population.