International relations expert and former Director of the Legon Centre for International Affairs, Professor Vladimir Antwi-Danso, has called on President John Dramani Mahama to spearhead a united African diplomatic approach, warning that divisions among African states could open the door to renewed external control.

Prof. Antwi-Danso says some Western powers, particularly the United States and the European Union, continue to view President Mahama with suspicion, perceiving him as leaning towards Russia.

“He has been suspected of being more left, that is, closer to the Russians. The EU and the Americans view him as somebody who must have been supported by the Russians to come to power or something, so they are dealing with him with some suspicion,” he said in an interview with Channel One TV.

The scholar argued that Africa’s response should not be fragmented alignment with global powers, but a collective Pan-African posture.

“What I want him to do is to gather Africa as one unit. Let’s fight this manoeuvring with one fist. If we begin to put Nigeria, Benin, Ghana and Côte d’Ivoire in the American camp and others in another camp, then we will be re-colonised—and that re-colonisation is already ongoing,” Prof. Antwi-Danso warned.

He pointed to the conflict in Sudan as an example of external powers pursuing proxy wars on African soil, emphasising that African nations must stand together to defend the continent’s interests.

“The Sudanese war is an external war being fought on our soil. Africa must gang up together and be resolute in defence of its own interests,” he added.