Harakati Za Muungano Calls For Bold Reforms To Unlock Africa’s Potential

Kwame Danquah, President of the International Secretariat of Harakati Za Muungano, has called for sweeping structural and systemic reforms to unlock Africa’s vast development potential.

Speaking at the opening of the 2nd Annual Harakati Conference in Accra, Mr. Danquah urged African nations to embrace integration and sustainable development through bold policy transformations.

Welcoming delegates from across West and Central Africa – including allied organisations, student unions and civil society groups – Mr. Danquah commended Harakati Za Muungano’s leadership for their unwavering commitment to African unity.

“Africa today stands at a crossroads, facing immense challenges but also unprecedented opportunities,” he said.

“The time has come for transformative policy action to tackle our common struggles and harness our collective strength.”

Reflecting on the post-independence trajectory of many African nations, Mr. Danquah pointed to persistent issues such as mounting debt, inflation, weak infrastructure and fragile economies. He decried Africa’s continued marginalisation in the global economic order.

“Africans remain the most deprived and underrepresented people globally – yet we are among the most richly endowed,” he asserted.

Quoting statistics from the United Nations and the African Union, Mr. Danquah underscored the continent’s strategic importance: Africa holds 30% of the world’s mineral reserves, 65% of its arable land, and is home to 17% of the global population.

Yet, its share of global trade remains under 3% with intra-African trade stuck at just 15% – a stark contrast to other regions.

“Our fragmented economies and dependence on external markets leave us exposed,” he warned. “It’s imperative that we build resilient, integrated and self-reliant regional markets.”

He identified seven key sectors requiring urgent reform: infrastructure, healthcare, education, savings, investment, pensions, governance and trade.

Mr. Danquah emphasised the importance of scaling up investment in energy, transportation, housing and digital infrastructure, noting the continent’s growing population and widening infrastructure gap.

“More than 60% of our people lack access to electricity,” he said, citing World Bank data.

“And over 900 million Africans are still offline. This is more than a development crisis – it’s a call to innovate and act boldly.”

On healthcare, he described the continent’s fragile systems as a major hindrance to progress, made painfully clear during the COVID-19 pandemic.

“We must invest in robust, people-centered primary healthcare that delivers preventive, curative, and rehabilitative services.”

Echoing the legacy of Ghana’s first president, Mr. Danquah closed his remarks by invoking the words of Dr. Kwame Nkrumah: “The black man is capable of managing his own affairs.” He urged participants to translate the conference’s vision into actionable policy, advocacy, and daily commitment.

Samuel Mensah, General Secretary of Harakati Za Muungano’s Ghana branch, joined Mr. Danquah in welcoming attendees. He described the gathering as a vital moment in rekindling the Pan-African spirit.

“For the next few days,” Samuel Mensah said, “our focus must be on practical solutions that can unite and uplift this continent. That is the purpose of this conference.”

Also addressing the assembly, Dr. Chérif Saloum Diatta, President of Harakati-Senegal, called on African leaders to pursue evidence-based reforms aimed at structural transformation and deeper regional integration.

Citing recent geopolitical shifts – including member state withdrawals from ECOWAS – Dr. Diatta urged increased investment in education, healthcare, infrastructure and manufacturing to reduce dependence on aid and raw commodity exports.

The five-day conference brings together leaders from across the continent to chart a course toward a more unified and economically self-reliant Africa.

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