The University of Professional Studies, Accra (UPSA), on Tuesday held its 2025 annual leadership lecture series at the university’s auditorium in Accra.

The event, which brought together high personalities from academia, government, and the clergy, including former President John Agyekum Kufuor, featured former South African President Jacob Zuma as the keynote speaker.

Under the theme "The geopolitics and geo-economics of de-dollarisation: BRICS currency strategy, lessons for Africa’s common currency and beyond", the lecture created a forum for guests to ask questions.

Concerning a unified Africa, Mr Zuma emphasised the need for African nations to adopt a single currency, citing the potential benefits of streamlined intra-African trade, reduced transaction costs, and enhanced economic resilience.

He argued that Africa's continued reliance on foreign currencies, particularly the US dollar, perpetuates a system of economic dependency rooted in colonial history.

A single African currency would help break free from this dependency and unlock the continent's vast economic potential.

He proposed the creation of an African-owned trading platform to facilitate intra-continental commerce and reduce dependence on foreign financial systems.

This, he said, would prioritise African goods and services, foster self-reliance, and shield the continent from external economic shocks.

The lecture highlights the growing conversation around Africa's economic future and its quest for financial sovereignty.

By advocating for a unified currency and African-owned trading platforms, Mr Zuma's proposals aim to reduce the continent's reliance on external economic systems and promote economic integration.

The African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA), launched in 2021, is seen as a critical step toward achieving this goal.

Also at the lecture were the Minister of Education, Haruna Iddrisu; former Interior Minister Kan Dapaah; and the Presidential Envoy for Interfaith and Ecumenical Relations, Elvis Afriyieh Ankrah, as well as Zenith Bank Managing Director Chinedu Onwuzurigbo.

The opening remark was delivered by the Vice Chancellor of the University, Prof. John Kwaku Mensah Mawutor.