Bio urges African leaders to invest in local industries
By the AFREEQUE newsroom, based on Ghanaian Times
Sierra Leonean President Julius Maada Bio has called on African leaders to invest in education, food security and local industries so that political independence improves living conditions. At a conference in Accra, he also advocated local processing of raw materials and better implementation of the African Continental Free Trade Area, according to the Ghanaian Times.
Sierra Leonean President Julius Maada Bio has called on African leaders to strengthen local industries, invest in human capital and transform natural resources on the continent. He spoke on Wednesday in Accra at the Elevate Africa 2026 conference, according to the Ghanaian Times.
Bio called for the removal of barriers to trade between African countries and for the African Continental Free Trade Area to benefit businesses and entrepreneurs more. He cited Sierra Leone’s free quality education programme and the Feed Salone initiative, focused on food security, as examples of policies intended to expand opportunities and boost food production.
The president also said that peace, public accountability and strong institutions were needed to sustain development beyond individual terms of office. He called for young people to have a greater role in leadership, entrepreneurship and national decision-making, and for priority to be given to concrete, funded and measurable initiatives.
Ogiame Atuwatse III, ruler of the Kingdom of Warri in Nigeria, also called for investment in education, innovation and skills, as well as stronger partnerships between Africa and its diaspora. His remarks emphasised that natural resources and population growth are not enough to ensure prosperity without investment in people and institutions.
In Accra, Bio advocated economic priorities after presenting his six measures for peace in Sierra Leone on 26 October, then ruling out a bid for the 2028 presidency on 28 October.
