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President John Dramani Mahama has called on African leaders to take an active role in shaping the emerging global order, warning that the post–Second World War multilateral system is breaking down and risks leaving the continent behind if it fails to act decisively.
Speaking at the Accra Reset Davos Convening on the sidelines of the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland, President Mahama said the world has reached a critical inflection point, with international relations becoming increasingly transactional and driven by narrow national interests.
He noted that Africa, which has historically lagged behind following independence, can no longer afford to remain dependent on humanitarian assistance and donor-driven development models.
“Africa intends to be at the table in determining what the new global order will look like,” President Mahama said, stressing that sovereignty cannot be achieved through dependency on external actors for security, health systems and economic survival.
The President highlighted what he described as Africa’s “triple dependency” reliance on others for security decisions, donor funding for health and education, and the export of critical minerals without capturing significant value describing it as a trap that must be dismantled.
President Mahama used the platform to advance the Accra Reset Initiative, which he said offers a practical response to the changing global landscape. He explained that the initiative seeks to move Africa from fragmented national success stories to a coordinated continental development model based on cooperation, accountability and self-reliance.
He pointed to Ghana’s recent economic turnaround, citing stable macroeconomic indicators, reduced government spending and digital reforms aimed at curbing corruption, as evidence that focused leadership and accountability can deliver results.
However, he cautioned that Ghana’s progress alone was insufficient, calling for collective African action in areas such as skills development, regional manufacturing, value addition to natural resources and joint negotiation on trade and critical minerals.
“Our young people are watching and running out of patience,” President Mahama said, urging leaders to invest in job-ready skills and build industries that create sustainable employment at home.
He concluded by inviting global partners to support Africa through partnerships based on mutual respect rather than charity, insisting that the continent must help design the systems that will define the next chapter of global development.
