Africa’s Future Depends on Youth, Women, and SMEs – Ghana’s VP

Story by Fada Amakye

Ghana’s Vice-President, Prof. Jane Naana Opoku-Agyemang, has emphasized the importance of empowering youth, women, and small enterprises to drive Africa’s economic transformation. Speaking at an advocacy platform, she highlighted the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) as a historic opportunity to deepen intra-African economic cooperation and investment.

Prof. Opoku-Agyemang noted that SMEs are central to Africa’s economy, generating over 80% of employment and a significant share of GDP. However, fewer than 20% of SMEs engage in export trade, and women and youth face unequal barriers to finance, mobility, and market access.

She called for a “reset” agenda to move Africa from dependency to self-reliance, and from fragmentation to integration. The VP emphasized the need to invest in infrastructure, connectivity, and skills development to support sustainable production and trade within Africa.

The theme of the dialogue, “Unlocking the Potential of Youth, Women, and SMEs in Africa’s Economic Transformation,” is timely, as Africa’s youth account for over 60% of the population and are driving technology and innovation.