President John Dramani Mahama has called on world leaders to confront Africa’s persistent poverty and dependency with the same urgency and coordinated effort used to combat global diseases such as HIV/AIDS.
Addressing the World Economic Forum Annual Meeting 2026 in Davos, Switzerland, the President reflected on lessons from the global fight against HIV/AIDS, recalling how coordinated leadership under former UN Secretary-General Kofi Annan led to the creation of the Global Fund and helped save millions of lives.
Mr Mahama argued that Africa is now facing what he described as a “pandemic of unfulfilled potential,” marked by widespread youth unemployment, fragile health systems and economies that extract resources without building lasting value.
He questioned why similar global mobilisation could not be applied to tackling poverty, dependency and structural barriers holding back young Africans.
The President cited Ghana’s “Resetting Ghana” agenda as a practical response, highlighting reforms such as reducing the size of government, digitising public services to curb corruption, investing in youth skills development and renegotiating debt to prioritise citizens’ welfare.
Expanding the discussion beyond Ghana, Mr Mahama outlined a broader vision for Africa and the Global South, advocating greater control over natural resources, the development of regional manufacturing hubs, local production of vaccines and medicines, and sustainable job creation for young people.
Describing the “Accra Reset vision” as a results-driven approach rather than rhetoric, he stressed the need for countries to innovate, compete and build resilient economies in a rapidly changing global landscape.
He warned that failure to act could deepen frustration among Africa’s youth, noting that growing impatience among young people should be a central concern for leaders worldwide.