National Chairman of the National Democratic Congress (NDC), Johnson Asiedu Nketiah, has called on African leaders to prioritise industrialisation by adding value to the continent’s abundant natural resources instead of relying on the export of raw materials.
Speaking at the Third Meeting of the Standing Committee of the International Movement for the Freedom of Nations in Russia on Wednesday, July 8, 2026, Asiedu Nketiah said Africa has a rare opportunity in the 21st century to reshape its economic future by processing its own resources and creating industries that generate jobs, technology and wealth.
He argued that the continent’s vast mineral deposits should serve as the foundation for Africa’s industrial growth rather than continuing to fuel the development of foreign economies.
According to him, Africa must move beyond the long-standing model of exporting unprocessed resources while other countries reap the greater economic benefits through manufacturing and value addition.
“The 21st century must not become another chapter in which Africa supplies strategic resources while others capture the greater share of the value they create,” he said.
Asiedu Nketiah stressed that the increasing global demand for Africa’s critical minerals presents a unique opportunity for the continent to chart a new economic path built on industrial capacity and innovation.
“My position remains firm: the 21st century must not become another chapter of raw material extraction. True power will come only when we possess the industrial capability to transform our resources into home-grown technology, knowledge and value,” he stated.
He noted that the central challenge facing Africa is not whether the world wants its resources, but whether African nations can position themselves as equal participants in the global economy instead of remaining suppliers of raw materials.
“The question before Africa is not whether the world is interested in our resources. Every nation pursues its interests. The real question is whether Africa will participate in this new era of global competition as an equal partner or merely as a supplier of inputs for the ambitions of others,” he said.
He concluded by urging African governments to strengthen their economic foundations so that political sovereignty is matched by economic independence, ensuring that the continent’s freedom delivers tangible prosperity for its people.
