President John Dramani Mahama called for the immediate operationalisation of a unified Pan-African payment system while addressing the ‘Accra Reset’s Addis Reckoning’ forum, held on Sunday, February 15, 2026, on the sidelines of the 39th African Union Assembly.
He identified the continent’s heavy reliance on external currencies as a primary barrier to deeper economic integration.
President Mahama noted that current currency conversion requirements act as a structural “clog” in the wheels of intra-African trade.
Responding to challenges outlined by Wamkele Mene, Secretary-General of the AfCFTA, the President questioned the efficiency of forcing small businesses to utilise third-party currencies for regional transactions.
“The Pan-African payment and settlement system is a thing whose time has come—and with urgency. I should be able to ship my goods to Kenya and get paid in cedis rather than a foreign currency,” he stated.
This proposed reform is a cornerstone of the broader Accra Reset agenda, which aims to dismantle the historical dependencies embedded within Africa’s financial architecture.
He specifically lauded ASKY Airlines for strengthening West African connectivity, Ethiopian Airlines for its expansive pan-African network, the growing use of maritime reefer vessels between Dakar and Douala, and a proposed ferry system linking Accra, Lagos, and Monrovia.
He further pointed to the significant strides in transport and logistics as proof that continental integration is already in motion.
“Once supply and demand are in place, the logistics will follow,” he said, adding that African prosperity inherently boosts global prosperity.
President Mahama issued a candid critique of the slow pace of continental bureaucracy, urging his fellow leaders to move beyond rhetoric and focus on measurable outcomes.
“We take time. And we behave like time is waiting for us,” he said. “As we said, this is the Addis reckoning. From Addis, we must stop talking and start implementing.”
By: Rainbowradioonline.com/Ghana
