President John Mahama has called for a new model of global cooperation that treats countries of the global south as equal partners, not aid recipients.

Addressing global political and business leaders at the World Economic Forum in Davos on Thursday, January 22, President Mahama stated that Ghana and its partners were not seeking charity but rather a shared and respectful partnership aimed at long-term prosperity.

“We didn’t come here to ask for charity. We came to propose a global partnership of the willing, based on a shared vision and mutual respect.”

He explained that Ghana’s proposed framework, known as the Accra Reset, is designed to reshape how cooperation between the global south and the global north works.

“The Accra Reset is building the architecture for a new kind of cooperation,” he said.

According to the President, the approach would ensure that countries in the global south “don’t just receive programmes but co-design them with our partners in the global north”.

He added that the goal is not only to attract investment but also to ensure such investments align with national and regional priorities.

“We don’t just attract investment; we shape it around our priorities,” he stated.

President Mahama outlined plans to establish what he described as “Prosperity Spheres” across regional platforms, where countries would coordinate efforts on investment, infrastructure development, and job creation.

Reflecting on leadership and long-term impact, the President quoted former Nigerian President Olusegun Obasanjo, who often reminds him that “leadership is about legacy”.

Responding to that challenge, President Mahama said his vision is clear.

“We want to leave a continent where young people don’t risk their lives crossing the Mediterranean because they have opportunities at home. We want to leave systems that work, industries that thrive, and nations that stand tall.”

He said that Ghana cannot achieve this vision on its own and that Africa also needs strong global partnerships.

“Ghana can’t do it alone. Africa can’t do it alone,” President Mahama said, extending an appeal to leaders present at the forum.

“This is a call to every leader in this room. If you believe in a world where prosperity is shared, not just based on narrow interests, join us. If you believe the Global South deserves partnership, not pity, join us.”

He said that the future of global development will increasingly be shaped in emerging economies. “If you believe the next chapter of human progress will be written in Accra, Nairobi, Kigali, Abuja, and Cairo, join us,” he added.

President Mahama said that the Accra Reset is already gaining traction internationally.

“The Accra Reset is not seeking permission. We’re building momentum,” he said, pointing to engagements from New York in September, through Davos, and upcoming discussions at the African Union summit in Addis Ababa next month, followed by the Oslo Dialogues.

He challenged global leaders to move from words to action. “The question is not whether the world needs this. The question is whether we have the courage to build it,” President Mahama said.