MAHAMA CALLS FOR EQUAL PARTNERSHIPS, FAIR FINANCING FOR AFRICA’S DEVELOPMENT

Ghanaian President John Dramani Mahama has called for a new approach to Africa’s engagement with the international community, saying the continent needs equal partnerships, fair financing and opportunities to drive its own development.

Speaking at the General Debate of the 81st Session of the United Nations General Assembly in New York on Thursday the 24th of September, 2026, Mahama said Africa was not seeking charity but partnerships built on mutual respect and shared economic interests.

He called for reforms to global financial and governance systems to better reflect the continent’s population, resources and economic potential.

With about 1.5 billion people and significant natural resources, Mahama said Africa should have a stronger role in global economic decision-making.

Africa Seeks Greater Value from Natural Resources

Mahama urged African countries to move beyond the export of raw minerals and focus on local processing, manufacturing and value addition.

He noted that Africa’s critical minerals are becoming increasingly important as the world shifts towards clean energy, but said the development of these resources should also support the continent’s industrial growth.

According to him, greater local processing could create jobs, strengthen domestic industries and ensure more of the economic value generated from Africa’s resources remains on the continent.

AfCFTA Key to Industrialisation

The Ghanaian President also highlighted industrialisation as central to Africa’s economic transformation. He pointed to the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) as an important platform for expanding intra-African trade, attracting investment and strengthening regional manufacturing. Mahama said a stronger continental market could help African countries reduce their dependence on raw commodity exports while building competitive industries and creating employment for the continent’s growing young population.

Mahama Demands Fairer Access to Finance

Mahama further called for changes to the global financial system, particularly over the high cost of borrowing faced by developing countries. He said expensive capital limits investment in infrastructure, industrialization, human development and climate resilience. The Ghanaian leader argued that Africa needs access to affordable, long-term financing and sustained investment rather than continued dependence on traditional aid. He said stronger international partnerships should support Africa’s infrastructure, technology, industrial development and job creation while giving the continent greater capacity to determine its own economic future.