Accra: Mr Ralph Mupita, MTN Group President and CEO, emphasized that Africa's long-term prosperity is more reliant on the expansion of economic opportunities rather than focusing on issues like migration. He highlighted the importance of regional integration and enabling broader participation in regional development activities.
According to Ghana News Agency, Mr Mupita shared these insights at the Kgalema Motlanthe Foundation (KMF) Winter Seminar in Accra. The seminar saw participation from leaders across government, business, academia, and civil society, who convened to explore the relationship between migration, development, and the future of Africa. Mr Mupita remarked, "The future of Africa will not be determined by the borders that separate us, but by the economic opportunities that connect us."
He urged governments to establish predictable policies and regulations that businesses can follow, along with allocating necessary resources and capital for growth. "Together, we can build a continent where opportunity is more evenly shared and prosperity is more widely created," he added. Mr Mupita stressed that migration should be viewed as part of the broader economic conditions that shape people's lives and economic progress.
Mr Mupita further noted that Africa's demographic advantage could only turn into an economic advantage if countries invested in conditions allowing people to participate productively. He pointed to essential areas such as skills, infrastructure, finance, markets, and institutions. "MTN was born in South Africa and has grown alongside the continent. Our prosperity is inseparable from Africa's prosperity," he stated.
He emphasized the growing importance of digital infrastructure and services as enablers of economic participation. "They connect people to each other, but also to education, entrepreneurship, financial and public services, and to markets," he said. MTN continues to support platforms that foster thoughtful, evidence-based dialogue on issues shaping Africa's future. "MTN believes that Africa's strength lies in its connectivity not only through networks, but through people, ideas, and shared identity," he concluded.