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Former President John Dramani Mahama and the 2024 flagbearer of the National Democratic Congress (NDC), has expressed worry over the attitude of African Governments who seem to target businesses owned by their political opponents.

According to John Dramani Mahama, some reasons more Africans are not establishing businesses on the continent is due to the fear of being sabotaged and their businesses crushed down with a government’s perceives it to be an affiliate of their opposition party.

He added that, some businesses owned by politicians and political influencers are mostly targeted by the ruling government in order to cripple their finances.

Mr. Mahama urged African leaders to do all they can to encourage more African businesses to thrive on the continent adding that, they should act in ways that will destroy businesses on the continent.

In a panel discussion at the 2nd edition of the Afro-heritage Conference and Awards in Lagos, Nigeria, the flagbearer of the National Democratic Congress (NDC) said, “we must not be afraid for our business people to succeed, we must not be afraid to have rich Africans."

“Governments must not come and think that because some other governments created this business, then we must kill it. That’s part of the problem that we have. We must believe in ourselves, in adversity comes opportunities.”

Mr. Mahama also made a case for African leaders to take seriously investment in young people to make innovations that will affect the ordinary citizens on the continent. Mr. Mahama noted that when investment is made in the African youth, the continent will be taken over from the world’s super powers. He therefore encouraged the African leaders not to feel threatened when their fellow African is financially powerful but rather work together to make the continent financially resilient and powerful.