NEW YORK, United States – 25 September 2025
His Excellency Captain Ibrahim Traoré, President of Burkina Faso, has been conferred with the distinguished Africa Inspirational Leadership Award by African Leadership Magazine. The honour was presented during the Global Power Forum (GPF) 2025, held at the City University of New York, United States.
The award celebrates African leaders who, through visionary leadership, courage, and unwavering dedication, have inspired hope and confidence across the continent. President Traoré’s recognition reflects his steadfast commitment to championing sovereignty, resilience, and people-centred governance in Burkina Faso, as well as his role in inspiring a renewed sense of African agency and dignity on the global stage.
Since assuming office, President Traoré has led a bold reform agenda that has transformed Burkina Faso’s economic and social landscape. Under his stewardship, the country’s GDP grew from approximately $18.8 billion to $22.1 billion, while local debts were successfully cleared. He has taken a firm stand for African sovereignty by rejecting loans from the International Monetary Fund (IMF) and the World Bank, famously declaring that “Africa doesn’t need the World Bank, IMF, Europe, or America.”
Domestically, he reduced the salaries of ministers and parliamentarians by 30% while increasing the wages of civil servants by 50%, directly improving livelihoods. His administration has advanced industrialisation with the establishment of two tomato processing plants (the first-ever in Burkina Faso), the construction of a second cotton processing plant, and the creation of a National Support Centre for Artisanal Cotton Processing to support local farmers. In 2023, he inaugurated a state-of-the-art gold mine to enhance local processing capacity and halted the export of unrefined gold to Europe, ensuring more value is retained within the country.
In agriculture, he prioritised food security and rural development by distributing over 400 tractors, 239 tillers, 710 motor pumps, and 714 motorcycles to support farmers. Access to improved seeds and inputs has boosted production, with tomato yields rising from 315,000 metric tonnes in 2022 to 360,000 metric tonnes in 2024, millet output increasing from 907,000 to 1.1 million metric tonnes, and rice production growing from 280,000 to 326,000 metric tonnes in the same period.
President Traoré has also promoted cultural identity and pride by banning colonial-era British legal wigs and gowns in Burkina Faso’s courts, replacing them with traditional Burkinabè attire.
The Global Power Forum (GPF) is a premier, high-level platform convened by the Centre for Economic and Leadership Development (CELD) and the African Leadership Organisation (ALO). GPF unites the twin legacies of two iconic gatherings — the Global Power Women Conference (GPWC) and the International Forum on African-Caribbean Leadership (IFAL) — into one powerful, inclusive movement.
Held annually in New York on the sidelines of the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA), the Forum convenes Heads of State, First Ladies, global business leaders, policymakers, CEOs, development partners, and change-makers from Africa, South America, and the global diaspora. By merging these historic forums, GPF amplifies voices, bridges continents, and strengthens cooperation in the Global South under a single prestigious banner.
About African Leadership Magazine
African Leadership Magazine, published by the African Leadership Organisation in the UK (Company No. 07435198), is a leading pan-African publication dedicated to presenting Africa’s narrative to a global audience. Since its inception in August 2008, the magazine has played a pivotal role in shaping discourse on leadership, business, and development across the continent and beyond.
With over 16 years of operation, African Leadership Magazine has established itself as a trusted platform for African leaders in business, politics, and diplomacy. Through its global events and publications, it continues to promote Africa-led initiatives, foster international collaborations, and attract investments to drive sustainable growth and prosperity in Africa.
Media Contact:
Ehis Ayere
Phone: +44 23 9265 8276
Email: ehis@africanleadership.co.uk
Website: www.africanleadership.co.uk
For more information and to register for GPF, visit www.africanleadership.co.uk.
