Kwame Danquah, President of the International Secretariat of Harakati Za Muungano, has issued a resounding call for sweeping structural and systemic reforms across Africa to realise the continent’s immense development potential.
Delivering the keynote address at the opening of the 2nd Annual Harakati Conference at the Accra International Conference Centre, Mr Danquah, urged African governments to pursue integration and sustainable development through decisive and transformative policy action.
The conference, themed, “Structural Transformation through Deep Policy Reforms for Sub-regional Integration and Accelerated Development in Africa”, was held from 9 to 10 May 2025 and attracted a large attendance. It had held similar to Côte d’Ivoire, Sierra Leone, Benin, Guinea, Burkina Faso, among others.
Harakati Za Muungano, is a non-profit organisation dedicated to African Union ideals, regional integration, and policy reforms aimed at accelerating the continent’s development. It operates across economic, political, socio-cultural, and related sectors, working to dismantle colonial-era borders, remove trade barriers, integrate institutions, promote national development, and unite the people and countries of Sub-Saharan Africa.
Welcoming delegates from across West and Central Africa, including representatives of allied organisations, student unions, and civil society groups, Mr Danquah commended the movement’s leadership for reaffirming its commitment to African unity.
“Africa today stands at a crossroads of immense challenges and unprecedented opportunities,” he said. “Now is the time for us, as a people, to pursue transformative reforms that address our shared struggles and unleash our collective potential.”
Reflecting on the post-independence struggles of African nations, including spiralling debt, inflation, inadequate infrastructure, and fragile economies, Mr Danquah lamented the continent’s continued marginalisation within global economic systems.
“Africans remain the most deprived and underrepresented among the world’s peoples. Yet, paradoxically, we are also among the most richly endowed,” he stated.
Drawing on data from the United Nations and the African Union, he highlighted Africa’s vast resource wealth: 30% of global mineral reserves, 17% of the world’s population, 65% of the world’s arable land, and a significant share of critical minerals needed for the global energy transition. Despite this, Africa accounts for less than 3% of global trade, with intra-African trade lingering at just 15% – far below levels in other regions.
“Our fragmented economies and overdependence on external trade have made us vulnerable,” he warned. “We must act with urgency to build resilient, integrated, and self-sufficient regional markets.”
Mr Danquah identified seven key sectors requiring deep reform: infrastructure, healthcare, education, savings, investment, pensions, governance, and trade. He stressed the urgent need for energy, transport, housing, and digital connectivity investment, particularly in light of Africa’s growing population and widening infrastructure deficit.
“Over 60% of our people have no access to electricity,” he noted, citing World Bank data. More than 900 million Africans remain disconnected from the internet. This is not merely a development challenge but a call for innovation and bold leadership.”
In terms of healthcare, Mr Danquah described the continent’s fragile systems as a significant obstacle to progress, a fact made starkly evident during the COVID-19 pandemic.
“We must make robust investments in primary healthcare that provide preventive, curative, and rehabilitative services accessible to all,” he urged.
In his concluding remarks, Mr Danquah echoed the vision of Ghana’s first president, Dr Kwame Nkrumah, reminding delegates: “The black man is capable of managing his own affairs.”
He called on attendees to translate the conference’s ideals into tangible policy, practical action, and daily advocacy.
Samuel Mensah, General Secretary of Harakati Za Muungano’s Ghana chapter, echoed Mr Danquah’s sentiments, describing the gathering as a vital milestone in reviving the Pan-African agenda.
“For the next few days,” Mr Mensah said, “we must devote ourselves to finding practical solutions that can unify and uplift this continent. That is the reason we are here.”
Dr Chérif Saloum Diatta, President of Harakati Senegal, also addressed the conference, urging African leaders to adopt evidence-based reforms to drive structural transformation and regional integration.
Referencing recent geopolitical developments, such as withdrawals from ECOWAS, he emphasised the need for strategic investment in education, healthcare, infrastructure, and manufacturing to reduce dependency on aid and raw commodity exports.
The conference brought together leaders, policymakers, and thinkers from across the continent, united in their quest to forge a more integrated, self-reliant, and prosperous Africa.