President John Dramani Mahama has warned that global relations are becoming increasingly transactional, with many countries and actors acting unilaterally in pursuit of narrow national interests. He made the remarks on Thursday, January 22, 2026, at the Accra Reset (The Davos Convening) held on the sidelines of the World Economic Forum in Davos.
Addressing a gathering of global leaders, development partners, and strategic stakeholders, President Mahama noted that the post-World War II multilateral governance system is under pressure. “Bilateral relations among nations are increasingly transactional, and many state and non-state actors are acting unilaterally in pursuing their own national and parochial interests,” he said.
Highlighting Africa’s historical dependence on aid, the President stressed that the continent must assert control over its own destiny. “Africa must pull itself up by its own bootstraps,” he declared, noting the shrinking global humanitarian assistance and the need for self-reliance in health, education, and economic systems.
President Mahama emphasized the lessons from the COVID-19 pandemic, pointing out that Africa was the last continent to receive vaccines. “But for the immunological profile and resilience of the African population, many millions would have died in the pandemic,” he said, underscoring the continent’s vulnerability when global systems fail.
The President introduced the Accra Reset Initiative as a practical response to Africa’s development challenges in a shifting global order. “Not as another declaration. Not as a wish list. But as a practical answer to a question millions of young Africans are asking: What should Africa’s response be in a changing global order?” he stated.
Citing Ghana’s recent domestic achievements, Mahama highlighted macroeconomic stability, single-digit inflation, and strengthened business confidence. Yet, he cautioned that national success alone is insufficient. “However admirable Ghana’s turnaround story is, we cannot be a jewel in the dirt. We must work together as Africa. We must knit together the patchwork of success stories,” he said.
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The President also warned against Africa’s “triple dependency”: relying on others for security, depending on donors for health and education, and supplying raw materials without capturing value. “This isn’t sovereignty. It is a trap. And it is getting worse,” he said.
To counter these challenges, President Mahama outlined practical strategies, including pooled negotiation power on minerals, regional manufacturing hubs, domestic production of vaccines and technology, and accountable governance. “The Accra Reset is building the architecture for a new kind of cooperation. One where Global South countries don’t just receive programmes but co-design them with our partners in the global north,” he said.
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The Accra Reset convening in Davos, described by the President as “the Davos convening,” follows the initiative’s launch at the UN General Assembly last year and is part of a broader continental effort to reshape Africa’s role in the emerging global order.
President Mahama concluded by appealing to leaders to support shared prosperity. “If you believe the Global South deserves partnership, not pity, join us. If you believe the next chapter of human progress will be written in Accra, Nairobi, Kigali, Abuja, and Cairo, join us,” he said.
Source: Starrfm.com.gh
