John Dramani Mahama, a former president of Ghana, has urged for the creation of a Marshall Plan for Africa as it attempts to develop economically and trade after being enslaved for a long time.
In an interview with Hayde Adams for VOA’s Straight Talk Africa program, Mahama noted that slavery had a negative effect on the continent, necessitating the creation of a Marshall plan in order to move forward.
With a strategy in place and the appropriate leadership, he claimed, Africa could provide its people with a respectable standard of living.
Mahama expressed confidence that, given the appropriate circumstances, Africa will emerge as the newest international financial and commercial center.
“After slavery, I think there should be a Marshall plan. I mean slavery affected the continent very adversely and I do believe that if a Marshall plan was put up and we got the right leadership on the continent and we do the kinds of things we are doing; trading, building the infrastructure on the continent, we can create a decent existence for our people. I have confidence that Africa is the next emerging continent and it is going to be the next frontier for investment and business,” he said.
The former President was also happy about the implementation of the Africa Continental Free Trade Area stating that it was one of things he and others had advocated for.
An elated Mahama said the 11% intra-trade boost between African countries was ‘ridiculous’ stressing that the AfCFTA could serve as a catalyst in achieving 50% intra-Africa trade in the near future. This he says will enable the African continent to fully benefit from trade.
“Happily, we have passed the Africa Continental Free Trade Area and as I speak the first commodities are beginning to be exchanged. A shipment of tiles from Ghana I read this morning is going to Rwanda and a shipment of tea is coming from Kenya to Ghana… I mean that’s good news.
“We have been advocates of this for so long. We are happy it’s happening now. 11% percent trade amongst ourselves, it’s ridiculous . We are hoping that this can push trade between ourselves even to 50% so that we are able to multiple the benefits within the continent but also get benefits from outside,” Mahama said.
About the post WWII Marshall Plan
The Marshall Plan, according to investopedia.com, was a U.S sponsored program that was implemented following the end of World War II.
It was intended to aid European countries that had been destroyed as a result of the war, and it was laid out by U.S. Secretary of State George Marshall during an address at Harvard University in 1947. The plan was authorized by Congress as the European Recovery Program (ERP).