Bawumia: Africa must build systems to scale its innovations

The former Vice President of Ghana, Dr Mahamudu Bawumia, has underscored the immense innovative potential within Africa, asserting that the continent’s foremost challenge lies not in a lack of ideas, but in the absence of robust systems capable of scaling and sustaining them.

Delivering a keynote address at the Cambridge Africa Business Conference on Saturday, 17th May 2025 — held under the theme ‘Africa’s Digital Transformation: Building Resilient Economies Through Innovation’ — Dr Bawumia remarked:

“Africa does not lack innovation. We lack systems that scale it. We do not lack ideas. We lack ecosystems that reward and retain them. We do not lack ambition. We lack access to capital, infrastructure, and trust.”

He stressed that although Africa is replete with creativity and entrepreneurial dynamism, the growth of such potential is consistently impeded by the dearth of enabling structures — including dependable infrastructure, accessible financing, and institutional trust.

Dr Bawumia envisioned a future in which African innovations are seamlessly integrated into the global marketplace.

He painted scenarios of a tech start-up in Nairobi delivering services to clients in São Paulo, or a shea butter cooperative in Tamale selling directly to consumers in Tokyo through blockchain-enabled traceability.

He insisted that African innovations must cease to be treated as anomalies.

“Our innovations should not be viewed as exceptions but as the norm,” he declared.

He therefore called upon African governments and stakeholders to prioritise the development of resilient systems and ecosystems.

According to Dr Bawumia, such a strategic focus would be instrumental in nurturing innovation, enhancing scalability, and unlocking the continent’s full economic potential.

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