President John Dramani Mahama has called on African nations to assert greater control over their development and global positioning, stressing that the continent must actively shape its own future.

Speaking during the 2026 State of the Nation Address, President Mahama emphasised that achieving genuine sovereignty across Africa requires bold, strategic, and coordinated action.

“Africa must summon the courage to shape its own destiny. Building genuine sovereignty across Africa requires a deliberate and disciplined plan,” he said, highlighting the urgency for countries on the continent to take charge of their future.

Four Pillars for Africa’s Future

President Mahama outlined four critical pillars for realising this vision:

Unlocking Youth Potential: He stressed the need to harness the immense human and creative resources of Africa’s young population, recognising them as the continent’s greatest asset for innovation, entrepreneurship, and sustainable growth.

Strengthening Regional Value Chains: Mahama called for greater value addition to Africa’s raw materials and products before export, noting that this would boost economic resilience, create jobs, and enhance the continent’s bargaining power in global markets.

Mobilising Domestic Capital: He urged African nations to finance their own development through domestic resources, reducing dependency on external aid and loans.

Speaking with One Voice: The President emphasised the importance of a coordinated and confident continental voice in global affairs to protect Africa’s interests and strengthen its influence.

Through these pillars, President Mahama urged Africa to move decisively from dependence to self-reliance, ensuring that the continent shapes its own destiny in the rapidly evolving global order.