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African countries have been called upon to deepen unity, institutional innovation, and inclusive growth as a strategy for overcoming global economic headwinds and building a self-reliant, resilient future.
This rallying call came as the African Export-Import Bank (Afreximbank) revealed it had mobilized over US$250 billion into Africa over the past three decades—supporting industries long neglected by traditional financiers and offering a critical lifeline during crises ranging from the COVID-19 pandemic to commodity shocks and supply chain disruptions.
The announcement was made by Afreximbank President and Chairman of the Board, Professor Benedict Oramah, during his keynote address at the official opening of the 32nd Afreximbank Annual Meetings (AAM) held Wednesday in Abuja, Nigeria.
Read more: Afreximbank’s 32nd annual meetings set to hold in Abuja
“The story of Afreximbank is one of defiance against doubt, of institution-building in the face of resistance, and of steadfast belief in Africa’s potential,” Oramah declared.
He said this gathering took place amid global uncertainty—deglobalisation, rising protectionism, and geopolitical fragmentation—but that such headwinds only affirmed the need for African strength from within.
He emphasized that Africa’s youthful population, natural resources, intra-regional trade potential, and digital transformation were key to shaping a new, self-defined development paradigm.
Representing Ghana’s Finance Minister and AAM Chairman, Cassiel Ato Baah Forson, Deputy Minister of Finance, Thomas Nyarko Ampem, echoed Oramah’s sentiments, urging African nations to act with collective resolve.
“Africa has weathered economic shocks, health crises, climate disruptions, and political volatility—but we have not only endured, we’ve emerged stronger,” Ampem said, noting, “Now is the time to turn that resilience into ambition.”
Ampem praised Afreximbank for standing with African nations—not merely as a financier, but as a transformational partner in advancing trade integration, industrialization, and digital infrastructure.
“The theme, Building the Future on Decades of Resilience, reminds us that our past endurance must now propel us toward a bold, inclusive future,” he noted.
He cited milestones such as the Pan-African Payment and Settlement System (PAPSS) as game-changers in reducing cross-border trade barriers and enabling efficient, continent-wide commerce.
He also applauded the Bank’s support for SMEs and women entrepreneurs, essential to growing Africa’s share in global value chains.
“These achievements are not endpoints but stepping stones,” Ampem stated, adding “We must go further.”
Ampem warned that global financial systems were not always aligned with Africa’s development priorities and underscored the role of institutions like Afreximbank in crafting tailored, African-driven solutions.
Looking ahead, he said the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) presented a historic opportunity to unite 1.4 billion people under a shared economic framework.
But realizing this potential, he cautioned, would require coordinated policy action and sustained investments in infrastructure, job creation, and climate resilience.
“The resilience we celebrate must be matched by relentless innovation. We must choose integration over isolation, production over dependence, and collaboration over division,” he stated.
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