President John Dramani Mahama has cautioned that Africa’s pursuit of true sovereignty remains severely constrained by what he terms a “triple dependency” on external forces for security, social services, and the extraction of critical minerals.
Speaking before Zambia’s Parliament on Thursday, February 5, President Mahama noted that many African nations are still locked into structural dependencies that restrict their capacity to pursue independent and sustainable development.
“Too many African countries remain trapped in what I describe as a triple dependency, reliance on external actors for security decisions, dependence on donors to sustain health and education systems, and dependence on suppliers of critical minerals while retaining little or no value from them,” he stated.
In his view, these entrenched dependencies continue to erode Africa’s sovereignty and stifle the continent’s ability to fully harness its immense resources and human capital.
President Mahama further described Africa’s current situation as a “pandemic of unfulfilled potential,” characterised by widespread youth unemployment, fragile healthcare systems, and extractive economies that fail to build local capacity.
“Africa is confronting a different kind of pandemic — one of unfulfilled potential. Millions of young people remain unemployed, our health systems are weak, and our economies extract wealth without strengthening domestic capacity,” he observed.
He urged African leaders to confront these realities with honesty and decisive action, calling for a shift towards policies that prioritise self-reliance, value addition, and inclusive economic growth.
President Mahama also referenced his recent engagement with global leaders at the World Economic Forum in Davos, where he outlined the Accra Reset Initiative as part of broader efforts to redefine Africa’s development path.
“Just days ago in Davos, I spoke to global leaders about the Accra Reset Initiative and the urgent need for Africa to reimagine its development trajectory,” he said.
Despite the challenges, President Mahama expressed optimism that the continent could transform its present difficulties into an opportunity for renewal and long-term transformation.
“History teaches us that crises can sharpen resolve. Africa must therefore take its destiny into its own hands,” he remarked.
President Mahama is currently in Zambia on a three-day state visit aimed at strengthening bilateral ties and deepening cooperation between Ghana and Zambia across key strategic sectors.