MTN Group President and Chief Executive Officer, Ralph Mupita, has called on African governments to adopt stable and predictable policy and regulatory frameworks to attract investment and unlock the continent’s long-term economic potential.
Speaking at the Kgalema Motlanthe Foundation Winter Seminar, Mupita said Africa’s future prosperity would depend less on migration and more on expanding economic opportunities, strengthening regional integration and enabling more people to participate meaningfully in the economy.
He argued that governments have a critical role in creating an enabling environment for investment, noting that businesses are more willing to commit capital where policies are clear and consistent.
“The future of Africa will not be determined by the borders that separate us, but by the economic opportunities that connect us. Governments must set predictable policies and regulations. Businesses will follow and allocate resources and capital.
Together, we can build a continent where opportunity is more evenly shared and prosperity is more widely created,” Mupita said.
The seminar brought together leaders from government, business, the diplomatic corps, academia and civil society to discuss the relationship between migration, development and Africa’s future. MTN sponsored this year’s event, saying it believes platforms that encourage dialogue among diverse stakeholders are essential to finding practical solutions to the continent’s development challenges.
During a panel discussion, Mupita said migration should be viewed as a consequence of uneven economic development rather than as an isolated policy issue.
“If our discussion ends with the language of crisis around migration, we will have treated the symptom and missed the deeper challenge. People move because opportunity is unevenly distributed. The defining question is whether we can build economies in which mobility is matched by opportunity,” he said.
According to him, Africa’s growing population will become an economic advantage only if countries invest in skills development, infrastructure, financial systems, markets and strong institutions that enable people to contribute productively.
He noted that digital infrastructure has become a key driver of economic participation by connecting people to education, entrepreneurship, financial services, public services and broader markets.
“MTN was born in South Africa and has grown alongside the continent. Our prosperity is inseparable from Africa’s prosperity,” Mupita said.
He added that the telecommunications group would continue to support initiatives that promote evidence-based discussions on issues shaping Africa’s future.
“MTN believes that Africa’s strength lies in its connectivity not only through networks, but through people, ideas and shared identity. This initiative is about building bridges, not borders,” he said.
Mupita’s remarks come as many African countries seek to attract greater domestic and foreign investment to accelerate economic growth, create jobs and leverage digital technologies to improve financial inclusion and regional trade.