By: Christian Kpesese
President John Dramani Mahama has told the 80th United Nations General Assembly in New York that Africa must take full control of its natural resources to finance its own development and ensure the well-being of its citizens.
He said the continent can no longer depend on dwindling aid flows, noting that since July 2024, humanitarian assistance to Africa has dropped by 40 percent while global defence spending continues to rise.
“In this era of global uncertainty, Africa must exercise sovereignty over its natural resources to raise the necessary funds to ensure the well-being of its citizens,” Mahama stated.
“The days of parceling out vast concession areas to foreign interests for exploitation must come to an end.”
The Ghanaian leader stressed that Africa still welcomes foreign investment but must negotiate fairer agreements that secure greater benefits for its people.
He warned against the continued marginalisation of African communities living around resource-rich concessions while the bulk of profits flow abroad.
“We are tired of the continued image of poverty-stricken, disease-ridden rural communities living at the periphery of huge foreign-controlled resource concession areas,” he said.
Mr Mahama also linked resource control to wider reforms, calling for changes in the global financial system that he described as unfavourable to Africa.
According to him, African nations deserve a stronger voice in multilateral financial institutions and must no longer be shortchanged in international arrangements.
The president’s remarks form part of a broader appeal he made for a global “reset” that ensures fairness in economic and political representation.
