At the Oxford Africa Conference, Ghana’s Vice President, Jane Naana Opoku-Agyemang, addressed the need for leadership approaches that respond to current economic and technological changes affecting Africa.
In her keynote address at the 16th Oxford Africa Conference, the Vice President spoke to an audience of policymakers, academics, innovators, and business leaders. She stated that Africa has the talent, resources, and institutional capacity to influence its future, despite current global challenges.
She indicated that long-term transformation in Africa depends on effective policy implementation, institutional resilience, and sustainable economic reforms designed to improve living standards.
Regarding Ghana’s economic policy, Prof. Opoku-Agyemang outlined current reforms intended to stabilize the economy and reduce reliance on raw material exports. She identified value addition in sectors such as cocoa processing as a component of efforts to strengthen economic resilience and sustainability.
The Vice President stated that Ghana’s policy approach includes both macroeconomic recovery and measures to expand opportunities for underserved groups through targeted social and economic programs.
She referenced the proposed 24-Hour Economy policy and the planned Women’s Development Bank as initiatives aimed at increasing access to employment, entrepreneurship, and financial services, with a particular focus on women.
Prof. Opoku-Agyemang stated that providing women with access to capital, skills training, and economic resources is necessary for inclusive economic growth in Ghana and other African countries.
On Africa’s participation in the global digital economy, the Vice President identified opportunities associated with the African Continental Free Trade Area. She encouraged African countries to develop capacity in sectors including artificial intelligence, digital infrastructure, energy transition, and data management.
She stated that Africa should move beyond being a consumer of technological innovation and participate in shaping global technology and digital governance.
In her concluding remarks, the Vice President stated that Africa’s future will depend on the continent’s capacity to organize, strengthen institutions, and implement governance systems that prioritize ethics and public interest.
Her statements at the conference contributed to ongoing discussions regarding Africa’s economic independence, digital transformation, and the role of leadership in sustainable developmen
By Ghana Beacon Editorial Team
May 16, 2026
