President John Dramani Mahama has called for greater economic independence and regional trade, arguing that Africa cannot achieve lasting peace through external assistance alone.
Speaking on Saturday, October 24, at the Tana High-Level Forum on Security in Africa, where he chairs the Forum’s Board, President Mahama said economic marginalisation and the unfair exploitation of natural resources continued to fuel instability across the continent.
He made the remarks while presenting the 2026 State of Peace and Security in Africa Report, stressing that African countries must exercise greater control over their strategic resources and ensure that their wealth translates into improved living conditions for citizens.
“True sovereignty is not simply having a seat at the United Nations or singing a national anthem,” he said. “It means having the power to govern our strategic resources, negotiate fair terms, and ensure that the wealth beneath our people’s feet puts food on their tables.”
President Mahama also called for deeper regional integration, describing trade and economic cooperation as important tools for preventing conflict.
He argued that stronger economic ties among African countries would encourage cooperation and make neighbouring states more valuable as trading partners than as rivals.
Among the measures he proposed were increased local processing of natural resources, expanded intra-African trade, economic opportunities for young people and women, and greater African funding for regional peacekeeping operations.
On security challenges in West Africa, the President urged continued dialogue with Burkina Faso, Mali and Niger, emphasising the need for cooperation between the Sahelian states and their coastal neighbours.
He also highlighted the proposed Sahel Gulf of Guinea Accord, which he described as a coalition of willing countries intended to strengthen regional defence cooperation and succeed the Accra Initiative.
“No border post can stop a threat that we refuse to discuss amongst ourselves,” President Mahama said, underscoring the importance of collective action in addressing cross-border security threats.
