President John Dramani Mahama has called for a new model of global cooperation that treats countries in the Global South as equal partners, rather than aid recipients.
Speaking at the Accra Reset Davos Convening Event, held on the sidelines of the World Economic Forum, Mahama emphasized that Ghana and its partners are seeking mutual respect and shared vision, not charity.
“We didn’t come here to ask for charity. We came to propose a global partnership of the willing, based on a shared vision and mutual respect,” he said.
The President explained that Ghana’s Accra Reset framework aims to reshape cooperation between the Global South and Global North. According to Mahama, the model ensures that developing countries co-design programmes with partners rather than simply receiving externally-driven initiatives.
“We don’t just attract investment; we shape it around our priorities,” Mahama stated, noting plans to create Prosperity Spheres across regional platforms to coordinate efforts on investment, infrastructure development, and job creation.
Reflecting on leadership and long-term impact, he quoted former Nigerian President Olusegun Obasanjo: “Leadership is about legacy.” Mahama said his vision is to leave a continent where young people have opportunities at home rather than risking their lives abroad.
He stressed that Ghana and Africa cannot achieve this vision alone and appealed to global leaders to participate in shaping an equitable future.
“If you believe in a world where prosperity is shared, not just based on narrow interests, join us. If you believe the Global South deserves partnership, not pity, join us,” he urged.
Mahama highlighted that the Accra Reset is already gaining international traction, with engagements from New York in September, ongoing discussions in Davos, and upcoming forums at the African Union summit in Addis Ababa and the Oslo Dialogues.
“The Accra Reset is not seeking permission. We’re building momentum,” he said, challenging world leaders to move from rhetoric to action. “The question is not whether the world needs this. The question is whether we have the courage to build it.”