President John Dramani Mahama has called on African leaders to take urgent steps toward self-reliance, warning that the continent’s growing dependence on foreign powers threatens its long-term stability and sovereignty.
Addressing participants at the Accra Reset Convening on Thursday, January 22, in Davos, Switzerland, the former Ghanaian president described Africa’s current position as one of “triple dependency.”
He explained that many African states depend on external actors for security decisions, rely heavily on donor funding to sustain health and education systems, and export strategic minerals while gaining little economic value in return.
“This isn’t sovereignty. It is a trap. And it is getting worse,” President Mahama declared.
He noted that despite Africa’s vast natural resources, the continent remains vulnerable to global shocks due to limited industrial capacity and weak regional integration.
President Mahama argued that crises facing the continent should serve as turning points rather than setbacks.
“In my quiet moments, as I try to find solutions, here’s what I’ve learned: Crisis creates clarity. The clarity is this: We must build our own capacity to act,” he said.
The Accra Reset Initiative aims to reshape Africa’s development agenda by prioritising home-grown solutions, value addition, and stronger cooperation among African nations.
