President John Dramani Mahama has urged African countries to bring an end to the export of raw materials, warning that the continent will continue to lose jobs, revenue and industrial capacity if it fails to add value to its natural resources.

Speaking at the Africa Trade Summit on Wednesday, President Mahama said Africa’s long-standing dependence on primary commodity exports had entrenched economic vulnerability and stunted industrial development.

“Africa cannot continue to export raw materials and re-import finished goods at many times their original value,” he said, describing the model as one that “exports wealth and imports unemployment.”

The President cited cocoa as a clear example of the structural imbalance facing African economies, noting that while Africa produces the majority of the world’s cocoa, it earns only a small share of the value generated by the global chocolate industry.

“This situation is not unique to cocoa,” he said. “We see the same pattern in oil, textiles, timber and mineral resources, where Africa remains at the bottom of the value chain.”

President Mahama stressed that industrialization on the continent must be anchored in value addition and beneficiation, arguing that processing Africa’s resources locally would create jobs, support technology transfer and expand domestic revenue.

Turning to Ghana’s experience, he said the country was deliberately shifting away from a commodity-export model towards a value-added economy. According to him, this strategy prioritizes agro-processing, manufacturing and industrial clusters aligned with Ghana’s natural endowments.

“Our focus is to add value to what we produce—cocoa, cashew, oil palm, cassava, petroleum, gold, manganese and bauxite—so that these resources can drive real economic transformation,” President Mahama said.

He added that value addition was also critical to the success of the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA), noting that meaningful intra-African trade would only be achieved if countries traded finished and semi-finished goods rather than raw materials.

“Beneficiation is not optional; it is essential if Africa is to industrialize, compete globally and secure prosperity for its people,” he said.

The Africa Trade Summit brings together heads of state, policymakers, business leaders and development partners to discuss strategies for boosting industrialization, strengthening regional value chains and expanding intra-African trade.

As a new year begins, many people are eager to turn their resolutions into real progress. According to Mike Ohene-Effah, Co-Founder and Lead of Afrique International, true success does not come from good intentions alone but from intentional planning, disciplined time use, and consistent personal development.

Speaking during the Effective Living series live on Citi 97.3fm on Tuesday, January 6, Mike emphasized the importance of managing time wisely and setting clear goals.

“You make income between 8 a.m. and 5 p.m. Wealth, however, is created between 7 p.m. and 8 a.m. That is when you truly create value for your future,” he said.

He explained that every day can be divided into three eight-hour blocks, sleep, work, and personal time. While most people plan for sleep and work, the personal time block is often wasted on distractions. Mike noted that using this period for learning, skill development, and personal growth can significantly change one’s life.

Three Levels of Goal-Setting

Mike outlined a simple but powerful framework for goal-setting, built around three levels.

Outcome goals describe what you want to achieve by the end of the year. These could include earning a specific income, completing a major project, or reaching a career milestone. However, outcome goals are often influenced by external factors and may not be fully within one’s control.

Performance goals focus on personal standards and how well tasks are executed. These goals are about improvement, consistency, and measurable progress, giving individuals greater control over their success.

Process goals are the daily habits and actions that lead to long-term results. These include routines such as studying, networking, practicing a skill, or working on key projects. Mike stressed that although people often avoid process goals because they require daily effort, they are the most important drivers of lasting change.

“Nothing in your life will change in 2026 if you do not change or improve,” he said. “Focus on what you can control, your daily actions, habits, and behaviours. That is where real wealth and success are built.”

The Power of the Hidden Hour

Mike’s central message focused on what he calls the hidden hour, the time outside regular work hours when real growth happens. While salaries are earned during the day, long-term wealth, knowledge, and mastery are built through deliberate effort during personal time.

By committing this hidden hour to focused growth and disciplined goal-setting, individuals can turn ordinary days into powerful building blocks for a more successful future.

The Chief Executive Officer of the Ghana Gold Board, Sammy Gyamfi, has strongly denied reports claiming that the Gold-for-Reserves programme recorded losses under GoldBod’s management, insisting that the institution ended 2025 with a significant financial surplus.

Speaking on JoyNews’ Newsfile on Saturday, January 3, Mr Gyamfi described claims of a US$214 million loss as false and misleading. He explained that, based on unaudited management accounts, GoldBod generated over GHS960 million in revenue in 2025, while total expenditure for the same period remained below GHS120 million.

According to him, as a public institution, GoldBod does not declare profits but surpluses. He indicated that the Board is expected to announce a conservative surplus of between GHS700 million and GHS800 million for the 2025 financial year.

Mr Gyamfi also noted that GoldBod has complied with all legal requirements by publishing its quarterly financial reports. He added that the Auditor-General is expected to complete an external audit by the end of the first quarter of 2026, after which the full audited accounts will be made available to the public.

He further rejected assertions that GoldBod transferred losses to the Bank of Ghana, describing such claims as illogical. He explained that the Gold-for-Reserves programme was introduced by the Bank of Ghana in 2022 and is fully funded by the central bank, with all related transactions recorded in the Bank of Ghana’s books.

Mr Gyamfi explained that GoldBod was established in April 2025 and inherited an outdated operational structure, which required significant reforms. Despite these challenges, he said the law mandated GoldBod to continue managing the Gold-for-Reserves programme under transitional arrangements.

He questioned why alleged losses from a programme that existed before GoldBod’s establishment were being attributed to the Board. According to him, GoldBod has accounted for every cedi received from the Bank of Ghana, delivered the required gold value, and earned only its approved agency fees.