Viable economic ecosystem solution to Japa syndrome – Ghanaian envoy

Leaders of African countries have been urged to develop a viable economic ecosystem for talented young ones to thrive in order to reduce migration to countries outside the continent for greener pastures.

The Consul General of the Ghana Consulate in Lagos, Madam Sa Mata Gifty Bukari spoke during the country’s 67th independence celebration, saying Africa needs to leverage on its raw materials to produce products which will make the continent more competitive.

She said, “As Africans we should continue to encourage our teeming youths to stay in Africa and cut down on Japa in Nigeria parlance, engage in small-scale farming, partner others to use modernized agriculture methods, and help with food security.

“We need to work on becoming value addition industrial economists so that we will no longer depend on the production and exports of raw materials but transform and add value on the items we produce so as to earn small foreign exchange and become competitive on the world market.”

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She called on African countries to harness the potentials of the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA), expressing the Ghanaian government’s commitment to strengthen the bilateral relationship with Nigeria.

“So we expect more democratic and bilateral relations in all sectors of the economy so that we can work together as Africa, particularly we have introduced African Continental Free Trade Area, (AfCFTA), we have to take advantage of it so that we will able to introduce industry and add value to our products, so that our teeming youths in Africa can get job to do,” She said.

In his remark, the governor of Lagos State, Mr. Babajide Sanwo-Olu appreciated the Ghanaians for the peaceful co-existence with the Nigerians, saying that both countries must keep strengthening the unity for the growth of the continent.

Represented by the state’s Head of Diaspora Affairs, Esv Jermaine Sanwo-Olu, the governor said, “In the words of Kwame, he said united we must be, even though we keep our own sovereignty, our difference as Ghanaians and Nigerians, should not separate us, it should unite us. We come together to think of a greater picture of Africa, Nigeria.”