Mr Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa, Minister of Foreign Affairs, has warned that xenophobia and the mistreatment of fellow Africans pose a major threat to the continent’s quest for regional integration and economic transformation.
Speaking at the close of the 2026 3i Africa Summit in Accra, Mr Ablakwa urged African countries to end hostility toward foreigners and promote unity, compassion, and mutual respect.
“We must increase belief in ourselves and in what is made in Africa. We must also show greater compassion to each other, especially at a time when we are witnessing another wave of xenophobia,” he said.
He stressed that Africa could not achieve meaningful integration while its citizens were unwelcome in neighbouring countries.
“We cannot talk about trading among ourselves and deepening integration when we are not welcoming of each other. Where individuals breach local laws, law enforcement agencies must deal with them. Citizens should not take the law into their own hands,” he cautioned.
Drawing comparisons with Europe’s response to the Ukraine crisis, Mr Ablakwa noted that about 5.3 million Ukrainians were received across European countries, supported by policies that facilitated quick access to jobs and social services without the need for refugee camps.
In contrast, he said Africa’s response to the crisis in Sudan, which has displaced more than 14 million people, had been largely muted.
He, however, commended President John Dramani Mahama for extending humanitarian assistance to Sudan, describing it as a demonstration of responsible and compassionate foreign policy.
“What are we doing in Africa?” he asked. “We are saying ‘Ghana must go’, ‘Nigeria must go’. But go where? Is this not our continent? Are we not one people?”
Mr Ablakwa rejected the notion that expelling foreign nationals would solve unemployment or crime, insisting that deeper cooperation and integration offered a more sustainable solution.
He highlighted Africa’s vast economic potential, including its share of global mineral resources, arable land, and a population of about 1.4 billion, as well as a combined economic value exceeding 3.5 trillion dollars.
“These are the foundations we need to become a strong and competitive force in global affairs,” he said, urging leaders to position Africa within ongoing global transformations in technology, finance, and geopolitics.
The Minister reiterated Ghana’s commitment to continental integration, citing the country’s role in hosting the Secretariat of the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA).
He also pointed to the Pan-African Payment and Settlement System (PAPSS), launched in Accra and managed by the African Export-Import Bank, as a key innovation supporting intra-African trade by reducing currency risks, lowering transaction costs, and improving payment efficiency.
On financing development, Mr Ablakwa encouraged African countries to consider allocating up to 30 percent of their sovereign reserves to African financial institutions to mobilise resources for the continent’s growth.
He disclosed that the outcomes of the 3i Africa Summit would be presented to President Mahama and would inform key policy priorities when Ghana assumes the African Union leadership in February 2027.
Mr Ablakwa called for a stronger, unified African voice in global financial governance, stressing that the continent’s future depended on deeper connectivity, inclusiveness, and solidarity among its people.
