The Chairman of the National Development Planning Commission (NDPC) and Special Advisor to the President on the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), Dr Nii Moi Thompson, has called for a productivity revolution in Africa to help the continent adapt to changing global trade dynamics.
Speaking at the second Hamburg Sustainability Conference (June 2-4, 2025), where he represented President John Dramani Mahama, Dr Thompson noted that recent trade policies, such as the U.S. imposition of a 10% tariff on African imports, have created economic challenges similar to those seen during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Before the new U.S. tariffs, African nations applied an average tariff of 6% on American goods, while the U.S. charged only 0.4% on African exports. With the new 10% U.S. tariff, Dr Thompson warned that Africa risks losing ground in trade unless it boosts productivity.
“Africa already needed higher productivity to compete with cheap imports and in global markets,” he said. “Now, with these tariffs, the need is even greater.”
He added that improving labour productivity is key to narrowing income gaps between African workers and those in wealthier nations. The Pan-African Productivity Association (PAPA), he said, will play a role in this effort.
The Hamburg Sustainability Conference gathered leaders to discuss sustainable development, with Africa’s economic resilience among the key topics.