President John Dramani Mahama has stressed that Africa’s development depends on regional integration, strong institutions and accountable leadership, warning that no country on the continent can prosper in isolation.

Addressing Members of Parliament in Zambia on Thursday, 5 February, President Mahama said African nations must prioritise collaboration in key areas such as trade, energy, manufacturing and digital infrastructure.

“No African country can survive in isolation. We must build regional prosperity platforms, shared manufacturing zones, integrated energy grids, and digital infrastructure. We must negotiate with one voice on minerals, trade, and climate finance. We must be united in our strategy, just not as a slogan,” he said.

He identified governance and leadership as central to changing Africa’s development trajectory, underscoring the need for transparency and accountability across the continent.

“A critical factor in changing Africa's story is governance and leadership. We must admit, Africa needs and deserves transparent and accountable leadership. The institutions and the laws to fight corruption must be allowed to operate without fear or favour. Abuse of public trust must be punished. We must protect public resources and use them efficiently for the good of our people,” he added.

President Mahama also highlighted the importance of strong institutions over strong personalities, citing remarks by former United States President Barack Obama.

“As President Obama said during a visit to Ghana, and I quote, he said, ‘Africa does not need strong men; it needs strong institutions.’ We must build our democratic institutions to be independent and efficient. Parliament and the judiciary must work independently in the public interest. Leaders must respect their oath of office to respect the constitution,” he said.

Addressing democratic challenges in the region, President Mahama expressed concern about recent political backsliding in West Africa.

“In our sub-region of West Africa, democracy is backsliding with a return to military dictatorships. Ghana is, however, on a mission to prove that democracy works and that our people can achieve prosperity and opportunity under a constitutional democracy,” he said.

He also commended Zambia’s efforts in promoting democratic governance and regional cooperation, describing them as vital to Africa’s collective progress.