Former Ghanaian President John Dramani Mahama has launched the next phase of the Accra Reset initiative at the World Economic Forum in Davos, urging the international community to move away from aid-driven relationships toward equal and mutually beneficial partnerships.
Speaking to global political and business leaders, Mahama said Africa and other countries in the Global South must no longer be treated as objects of charity but as capable partners in shaping global solutions. He stressed that traditional development models built on dependency have failed to deliver sustainable growth.
“What Africa seeks is partnership, not pity,” Mahama stated, calling for a reset in how global cooperation is structured.
The Accra Reset framework promotes co-designed development programmes, regional economic collaboration, and stronger collective bargaining by developing nations in areas such as trade, climate finance, security, and natural resources. Mahama warned against what he described as a “triple dependency” — reliance on external security support, donor-funded social services, and the export of raw materials without value addition.
“Dependency is a trap, not sovereignty,” he said.
A key element of the initiative is the creation of regional “prosperity spheres” to encourage shared infrastructure, investment, and job creation across Africa. Mahama argued that a unified regional approach would give African countries greater leverage in global negotiations.
The Accra Reset initiative is backed by a Presidential Council made up of current and former leaders, alongside a Guardians’ Circle that includes respected African statesmen such as former Nigerian President Olusegun Obasanjo. The initiative was first introduced at the 2025 United Nations General Assembly and has since gained visibility at global forums, including the G20.
Mahama said the Davos engagement reflects growing international recognition that the global development architecture must adapt to changing economic and geopolitical realities.
