Mahama Ranked Fifth on Devex List of World’s Most Powerful Development Leaders
Devex recognises Ghanaian president’s leadership of the Accra Reset and global development influence
- President Mahama ranked fifth on Devex Power 50 list.
- Recognition driven by leadership of the Accra Reset agenda.
- Ranking reflects Africa’s growing influence in global development.
Ghana’s President, John Dramani Mahama, has been ranked fifth on the Devex Power 50 list of the most powerful people shaping global development and social change.
The annual ranking, compiled by leading development publication Devex, highlights individuals who are transforming the global development landscape amid what it describes as “tectonic shifts” in aid, finance, and policymaking.
President Mahama’s high placement reflects his leadership of the Accra Reset, a policy framework aimed at redefining Africa’s engagement with the global North at a time when traditional foreign assistance is declining and private-sector-led growth is gaining prominence.
According to Devex, Mahama stands out as a key figure in a new generation of leaders navigating reduced donor funding while promoting sustainable, market-driven development models.
At the core of his recognition is the Accra Reset’s focus on domestic resource mobilisation, expanded regional trade through the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA), and the strategic use of technology to accelerate development. The initiative advocates a “post-aid” Africa that prioritises sovereignty, innovation, and long-term economic resilience.
Devex notes that Mahama has moved beyond broad calls for “Africa Beyond Aid” by advancing practical policies that attract development finance without compromising national ownership.
The Power 50 list also features influential figures from philanthropy, finance, technology, and global health, including leaders driving private capital flows, technological innovation in healthcare, and reforms in climate and health financing.
By ranking President Mahama among the top five, Devex underscores the growing influence of African leadership in shaping the future of global development, signalling a shift in where ideas, policy direction, and power increasingly originate.
