President John Dramani Mahama has stressed that the future of global alliances cannot be meaningfully imagined without Africa, noting that the continent is not merely a space of competition, but one of solutions, opportunities and rising global influence.
With the world’s youngest population, vast natural endowments, dynamic innovation ecosystem and a fast-growing market of about 1.3 billion people, President Mahama said partnerships with Africa in renewable and clean energy, modern infrastructure, resilient food systems, digital transformation and human capital development must be structured to advance shared prosperity.
“We must work together. Africa welcomes global partners not merely to trade with, but to transform with — through investments that build industries, strengthen supply chains and create shared opportunity. Africa deserves a seat at the table in the reshaping of a new global order,” President Mahama stated.
He made the call yesterday at the ongoing World Governments Summit 2026 in Dubai, held under the theme ‘The Future of Global Alliances’. The summit has brought together Heads of State, leaders of international organisations and policymakers from across the world.
President Mahama cautioned that Africa must also reset itself if it is to secure the right kind of alliances, emphasising the need for accountable and transparent governance, respect for human rights, strong institutions and selfless leadership.
In his view, new alliances with Africa must prioritise value addition to the continent’s natural resources and grant Africa greater sovereignty and control over its assets. He cited the establishment of the Ghana Gold Board, which he said had generated more than US$10 billion in less than a year, as an example of this renewed approach.
“Our medium- to long-term goal in Ghana is to process and add value to our mineral ores and agricultural products — including gold, manganese, bauxite, lithium, petroleum, cocoa, oil palm, cashew, fruits, soya, cassava and other raw materials,” he outlined.
Reflecting on history, President Mahama recalled that alliances of previous generations were largely forged in response to geopolitical rivalries, military confrontations and economic competition, often shaped by blocs and spheres of influence.
Today, however, he said humanity faced challenges that transcended borders and defied unilateral solutions, including climate change, food and energy insecurity, global health emergencies, violent extremism and terrorism, technological disruption, fragile supply chains and widening inequality.
“These challenges demand cooperation, not as a matter of choice but as an imperative. The alliances of the future must therefore be rooted in shared responsibility and based on our common destiny,” he said.
According to him, future partnerships must extend beyond traditional diplomacy and become alliances of solidarity, anchored in mutual respect, shared aspirations and collective advancement.
President Mahama further identified peace as the essential foundation for sustainable development, noting that the growing threat of terrorism and instability in parts of the Sahel and West Africa underscored the fact that security was indivisible.
While acknowledging that the post-war multilateral order and rules-based system had come under strain due to unilateral actions by some global actors, he maintained that there was still sufficient foundation to restore the system.
“Ghana remains steadfastly committed to an international order based on dialogue rather than confrontation, cooperation rather than isolation, rules rather than coercion, and shared progress rather than zero-sum rivalry,” he said.
He added that Ghana’s partnerships, including those with countries in the Gulf region, reflected its belief in economic diplomacy that delivers development, investment and opportunity for its people.
“The future of global alliances is ultimately not about treaties alone. It is about the kind of world we choose to build — a world where cooperation triumphs over division, partnerships serve development, and nations rise together, not apart,” President Mahama concluded.
BY JULIUS YAO PETETSI
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