Mahama Warns Africa’s Triple Dependency Is Eroding True Sovereignty
President calls for self-reliance and structural reforms to unlock Africa’s full potential
- Mahama says Africa relies too heavily on external security, aid and resource extraction
- Warns dependencies weaken sovereignty and limit growth
- Urges self-reliance, value addition and inclusive development
President John Dramani Mahama has cautioned that Africa’s pursuit of true sovereignty is being eroded by what he termed a “triple dependency” on external actors for security, social services and the exploitation of strategic resources.
Speaking in the Zambian Parliament on Thursday, February 5, the President said many African states remain locked in structural arrangements that restrict their ability to determine independent development pathways.
“Too many African countries remain trapped in what I describe as a triple dependency — reliance on external actors for security decisions, dependence on donors for health and education systems, and dependence on others to exploit our critical minerals while we capture little or no value,” he said.
According to President Mahama, these dependencies continue to weaken the continent’s sovereignty and deny Africa the opportunity to fully harness its vast human and natural resources.
He described Africa’s current condition as a “pandemic of unfulfilled potential,” pointing to persistent youth unemployment, fragile healthcare systems and extractive economies that fail to build local capacity.
“Africa faces a different kind of pandemic — one of unfulfilled potential. Millions of young people remain unemployed, health systems are weak, and our economies extract wealth without developing the capacity to sustain growth,” he noted.
The President called on African leaders to confront these challenges with honesty and decisive action, stressing the need for policies that prioritise self-reliance, value addition and inclusive economic growth.
He also referenced his recent engagements with global leaders at the World Economic Forum in Davos, where he presented the Accra Reset Initiative as a framework for redefining Africa’s development trajectory.
“Just days ago in Davos, I spoke about the Accra Reset Initiative and the urgency for Africa to rethink and reset its development path,” he said.
Despite the challenges outlined, President Mahama expressed optimism that the continent could turn its current difficulties into an opportunity for renewal.
“History shows that moments of crisis can strengthen resolve. Africa must take its destiny into its own hands,” he said.
President Mahama is in Zambia on a three-day state visit aimed at deepening bilateral relations and expanding cooperation between Ghana and Zambia in key sectors.
