Former Chairperson of the Convention People’s Party (CPP), Hamadatu Ibrahim Hussein, has called on African nations to turn the recent wave of U.S. trade tariffs into a strategic opportunity to expand local production and reduce dependency on imported goods.
Speaking in an interview with Kwaku Owusu Adjei on Adwenekasa on Original TV, Hussein emphasized that Africa must see former U.S. President Donald Trump’s tariff-heavy trade policies as a catalyst for economic self-determination rather than a setback.
“This is not the time for Africa to complain about global trade injustices. It is the time to act — to produce, to innovate, and to empower our local industries,” she said.
According to Hussein, Trump’s aggressive trade stance, which has reintroduced steep tariffs on goods from several economies, presents a rare opening for African governments to rethink their economic strategies and invest meaningfully in domestic production capacity.
“We must understand that no one will develop Africa for us. The tariffs may hit global trade hard, but for Africa, this is an invitation to stop relying on imports and start building robust industries,” she noted.
Hussein urged African leaders to prioritize policies that support local content development, increase access to affordable capital for small businesses, and improve infrastructure to reduce the cost of doing business.
She further advocated for stronger commitment to the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA), describing it as a game-changer if implemented with seriousness and strategic vision.
“Let this be the moment we stop exporting raw materials and importing the finished version. Let this be the turning point,” she added.
The former CPP Chairperson’s remarks come amid renewed concerns across Africa about how global economic policies from the West and Asia continue to influence the continent’s economic trajectory.
