Gabby Asare Otchere-Darko is the the Chairman of the African Prosperity Network
The Chairman of the African Prosperity Network, Gabby Asare Otchere-Darko, has cautioned that youth unemployment poses the greatest threat to Africa’s development.
He underscored the continent’s growing population, currently estimated at one billion, as a critical factor in addressing this challenge.
His statements, shared by citifmonline on February 7, 2026, were delivered at the African Prosperity Dialogues under the theme, “Empowering SMEs, Women and Youth in Africa’s Single Market: Innovate, Collaborate and Trade.”
Closed borders blocking prosperity – Gabby Otchere Darko warns
“The biggest threat facing us is youth unemployment. It’s the biggest threat facing our continent today. Currently, we have 1 billion young people in Africa, 1 billion and growing.”
“By 2040, our population will be about 2 billion— I believe 1 billion. 1.3 billion of them will be the workforce, the biggest in the world,” he added.
Credit both Akufo-Addo and Mahama governments for economic gains – Gabby
Otchere-Darko further questioned whether our economies are large enough and well-structured to create jobs for the youth, arguing that restrictive border policies hinder the continent’s progress at a time when there should be greater openness.
“Are our economies big enough to create jobs for them? Let’s think about it. It’s a dangerous, dangerous space that we are entering. How to find jobs for these frustrated young people? And our economies are not built to take care of them?
“Let’s understand that. Let’s accept it. And let’s open the borders.”
He said while the United States and Europe are tightening their borders to limit migration, African countries are maintaining internal barriers that stifle trade, movement, and opportunities
“As the Americans and Europeans are raising their borders to keep us out, we are keeping our borders to restrict our progress. Does that make sense to us? It doesn’t,” he said.
“Two weeks ago, the EU signed a free trade agreement with India. Why? Because India’s population is 1.5 billion. We have a population of 1.5billion and growing. And if we don’t understand that sovereignty is sovereignty when it gives your citizens dignity, then we have a long way to go,” he concluded.
Watch video below:
‘The biggest threat we face is youth unemployment… our borders are restricting our progress.’ — Gabby Asare Otchere-Darko, African Prosperity Network founder warns that joblessness among young people poses a serious danger and calls for freer movement across Africa.
Watch here:… pic.twitter.com/eT3qW4ZrF5
— CITI FM 97.3 (@Citi973) February 6, 2026
RAD/EB
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