Africa must take ownership of its development – Vice President

Vice President Jane Naana Opoku-Agyemang has urged Africans to shoulder more responsibility for the continent's progress and narratives. She stressed the importance of African-led solutions to African problems and moving away from implementing solutions devised elsewhere. During the inaugural Africa Mindset Reset Forum in Kigali, Rwanda, Opoku-Agyemang joined a panel including Rwandan President Paul Kagame, former Ethiopian Prime Minister Hailemariam Dessalegn Boshe, and former South African President Thabo Mbeki.

She emphasized the significance of understanding Africa's past history in shaping its future. "Pan-Africanism was founded on the conviction that Africans could work together to determine their own future," said Opoku-Agyemang. "That conviction must remain at the heart of our development today." The Vice President urged the African School of Governance to focus on research based on Africa's circumstances and create solutions that directly tackle the continent's development needs.

She also highlighted the need to address bureaucratic hurdles and institutional obstacles that hinder progress across the continent. Policies and institutions should ultimately be judged by their impact on citizens, particularly those who have faced fewer opportunities. The forum discussions offered an opportunity for African leaders and experts to critically examine the continent's history, current situation, and development path.