The President of Harakati Senegal, Dr Chérif Saloum Diatta, has called for bold and evidence-based policy reforms to propel Africa’s structural transformation and regional integration.
He made the call while delivering the keynote address at the 2nd Annual Harakati Conference, which has been ongoing in Accra from May 8, and ends today, May 12, 2025.
Addressing an audience that, included Kwame Danquah, President of the International Secretariat branch of Harakati Za Muungano, along with trade and business leaders, student representatives and religious dignitaries, Dr Diatta, stressed the urgent need to reconsider existing economic policies, particularly in light of the recent withdrawal of Burkina Faso, Mali and Niger from ECOWAS.
“This year’s conference is not merely a celebration of African integration,” Dr Diatta said, adding, “It is a critical moment to confront our structural weaknesses and pursue far-reaching policy reforms that will enable accelerated development and deeper sub-regional cooperation.”
He emphasised the potential of such reforms to restore vital trade corridors, reinvigorate transit-based economies, and empower cross-border communities that have long been central to Africa’s traditional trade networks.
“The region must adopt robust economic and social policy reforms,” Dr Diatta added. “Only then can we guarantee that all communities share in the benefits of progress, without anyone being left behind.”
He further underscored the need to move away from dependence on raw commodities towards value-added sectors such as manufacturing and services, while also reducing reliance on foreign aid and reinforcing democracy and economic freedoms.
The Senegalese delegation—including El-Hamid, Alassane Diouf and Ndeye Sokhna Gueye—expressed gratitude to the conference organisers and reaffirmed their commitment to collaborating with partners across the continent to realise Harakati’s vision of integration.
The five-day conference, held under the theme “Structural Transformation through Deep Policy Reforms to Produce Sub-Regional Integration and Expedited Development in Africa”, continues with a series of panel discussions, workshops and policy dialogues designed to develop actionable strategies for Africa’s socio-economic advancement.