President John Dramani Mahama has called on African nations to take a decisive seat at the table as the world’s post-Second World War multilateral order shows signs of collapse, unveiling what he described as a practical roadmap for Africa’s economic sovereignty through the Accra Reset Initiative.
Speaking at a high-level side event at the World Economic Forum in Davos, President Mahama said the global system is at “an inflection point,” warning that Africa can no longer rely on shrinking humanitarian assistance or transactional bilateral relationships.
“Our world as we know it is at an inflection point. A global, multilateral governance system universally agreed and accepted after the Second World War is breaking down,” he said.
Reflecting on Ghana’s journey nearly 70 years after independence, Mahama acknowledged Africa’s struggles with conflict and poverty but insisted the continent must now “pull itself up by its own bootstraps.”
“Africa intends to be at the table in determining what that new global order will look like,” he declared.
President Mahama cited the COVID-19 pandemic as a stark lesson in global inequality, noting that Africa was the last continent to receive vaccines. “But for the immunological profile and resilience of our African population, many millions would have died,” he said.
He described the Accra Reset Initiative, first launched at the UN General Assembly in September, as “not another declaration” but “a practical answer” to the frustrations of Africa’s youth.
“In Ghana, we are answering that question by resetting our country, by cutting waste, by restoring hope, and by building systems that work,” Mahama said, adding that his administration has stabilized the economy with “single-digit inflation, a strengthened currency, and increased business confidence.”
However, he cautioned that national success is insufficient in isolation. “Ghana’s success alone is not enough. We cannot be a jewel in the dirt,” he said, urging African countries to scale up collective progress.
Mahama also warned against what he termed Africa’s “triple dependency,” where countries rely on others for security, extract resources without value addition, and remain vulnerable to external shocks.
“We supply the world’s critical minerals, but capture almost none of its value. This is insolvency. It’s a trap, and it’s getting worse,” he said.
