President of the Republic of Ghana H.E. John Dramani Mahama has declared that Africa has reached a decisive turning point in global affairs and must reposition itself through bold institutional alignment and strategic partnerships to secure prosperity for its people.
Speaking at the “Accra Reset: Addis Reckoning” event in Addis Ababa on the sidelines of the African Union Summit, President Mahama said the continent can no longer rely on outdated assumptions that shaped global development over the last eight decades.
“We gather this morning not to add another side event to a crowded summit calendar. We are here because Africa has reached a turning point we cannot afford to ignore,” he stated.
According to him, fractures in global supply chains, cautious financing environments, and rapid technological advancement have exposed weaknesses in existing international systems, creating an urgent need for Africa to rethink its engagement with the world.
President Mahama explained that the Accra Reset initiative is not merely a declaration or political slogan, but an operational framework designed to align finance, health, trade, skills development, and technology into a unified strategy for Africa’s transformation.
He revealed that discussions on the initiative began during the Health Sovereignty Summit in Accra, were advanced at the United Nations General Assembly and the World Economic Forum in Davos, and are now moving into an implementation phase.
The President also announced the formation of a High-Level Panel on the Reform of the Global Health Architecture, co-chaired by internationally respected leaders, to reposition health systems as drivers of productivity and economic stability rather than fiscal burdens.
“Through the Accra Reset, every finance minister now understands that health is the foundation of productivity and stability,” he said.
On economic sovereignty, President Mahama disclosed that technical work has begun on a Sovereign Negotiators Certification Programme aimed at training a new generation of African dealmakers capable of handling complex negotiations in technology, minerals, and finance.
He further highlighted initiatives under trade and mobility, including the AfCFTA Hub, digital platforms, and a Global Digital Skills Passport intended to ensure African qualifications are recognized across borders and markets.
President Mahama noted that new global partnerships inspired by a “New Bandung Spirit” are opening opportunities for technological learning and digital trade through cooperation with countries in Asia and other regions, while artificial intelligence is increasingly being integrated into Africa’s industrial planning and governance systems.
He stressed that African leaders must reject what he described as the “false choice” between ambition and realism.
“Ambition becomes realistic when institutions align, partners listen, and execution becomes a shared responsibility,” he emphasized.
President Mahama called for decisive commitments in key areas, including critical minerals supply chains, repatriation of African sovereign foreign exchange reserves, health financing, and digital skills development.
“This morning is not a conclusion. It marks the beginning of a more disciplined phase in which ideas must prove themselves through delivery… It is time to commit. It is time to transform,” he concluded.
Story by: Emmanuel Romeo Tetteh(#RomeoWrites✍️)/Ahotoronline.com | Ghana 🇬🇭