Ghanaian President John Dramani Mahama has outlined the thinking behind the Accra Reset and Ghana’s vision for a more self-reliant and integrated Africa…reports Africa Daily News Desk
Ghanaian President John Dramani Mahama has outlined the thinking behind the Accra Reset, saying the initiative reflects the need for African countries to strengthen their own capacity and reduce dependence on external support.
Speaking at the Council on Foreign Relations in New York, Mahama said the Accra Reset was prompted by the withdrawal of US$174 million in programmed development support, including an annual US$74 million funding gap in the health sector.
He said the reduction in support exposed vulnerabilities in critical areas, including medical research, HIV testing and programmes supported by the US President’s Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR).
According to Mahama, the experience highlighted the importance of building greater health sovereignty across Africa.
He said African countries should develop the capacity to produce medicines and vaccines domestically rather than remain dependent on external supply chains.
The Ghanaian president also addressed security challenges in the Sahel, linking the escalation of instability to developments following the conflict in Libya, the proliferation of weapons and the movement of terrorist groups into the region.
He said the military coups that subsequently took place in several Sahel countries should be considered within this wider security context.
On relations between the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) and the Alliance of Sahel States (AES), Mahama called for continued dialogue and efforts to rebuild regional ties.
He said the fight against terrorism requires cooperation between countries in the region as well as support from international partners.
Ghana, he added, is strengthening surveillance and intelligence-sharing with neighbouring countries as part of efforts to protect its borders from regional security threats.
Mahama also outlined Ghana’s priorities ahead of the country’s planned 2027 chairmanship of the African Union (AU).
He said Ghana intends to use the chairmanship to advance regional integration, facilitate the movement of goods across the continent and support wider African efforts to promote peace and security.
The president’s remarks placed greater African self-reliance, regional cooperation and security at the centre of Ghana’s approach to continental affairs.
The Accra Reset, he said, reflects the broader need for African countries to strengthen domestic capacity while deepening cooperation across the continent.
