President John Dramani Mahama says Africa is no longer a passive participant in global affairs but a driver of transformation, capable of reshaping the economic, political, and ecological order of the world.
President Mahama, speaking at the 80th United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) in New York on Thursday, declared that Africa’s resilience and demographic strength positioned it as a central force in global systemic change.
“Already today, Africa is a catalyst for human potential and development, as well as for economic reform and ecological stability. Africa is a catalyst for systemic change,” he said.
He observed that stereotypes shaped by racism, colonialism, and imperialism continued to cloud perceptions of the continent.
“If this reality – which is fact-based and straightforward – seems provocative or unsettling, perhaps it’s because you’re viewing it through the lens of centuries of racism, colonialism, imperialism, and the resulting implicit bias,” he cautioned.
President Mahama emphasized that Africa had repeatedly demonstrated its ability to overcome adversity and make comebacks, citing Ghana’s own recent progress under his administration.
Through a bold economic reset agenda, Ghana had reduced inflation significantly within eight months and restored stability to the cedi, while also boosting investor confidence.
The President said that Africa’s growing population, particularly its youthful base, gave the continent unique leverage in shaping the future.
With one-third of the world’s young people projected to live in Africa by 2050, he said the continent would serve as a “powerhouse for innovation, creativity, and growth.”
He urged the UN and the international community to recognize this new reality and move beyond outdated structures.
The Security Council, he argued, must reflect the diversity of today’s world by granting Africa permanent representation and curbing the absolute veto power of five nations.
President Mahama stressed the need for systemic reform in the global financial architecture, which he said was “rigged against Africa.”
He called for a fairer share of decision-making within international financial institutions and urged African states to exercise sovereignty over natural resources.
“The days of parceling out vast concession areas to foreign interests for exploitation must come to an end. We will continue to welcome foreign investment, but we must negotiate better for a bigger share of the natural resources that belong to us,” he said.
The President linked Africa’s systemic role to pressing global issues, including climate change, migration, and conflict, arguing that Africa bore the brunt of climate change despite contributing far less to global emissions.
President Mahama reminded the Assembly that Africa was not defined by poverty and instability, but by resilience, creativity, and potential.
“We are tired of not being represented in ways that reveal the richness and complexity of our history or acknowledge all that we have overcome to arrive here, in this liminal space of untold possibilities,” he said.
He urged the world to embrace Africa’s transformative role, noting that the continent’s empowerment would mean progress for all humanity.
GNA
UNGA: Africa is a catalyst for systemic change – President Mahama
