African leaders and citizens must consciously uphold values that strengthen families, safeguard sovereignty and create opportunities for future generations if the continent is to achieve meaningful and lasting progress, Chief of Staff Julius Debrah has declared.
Delivering a keynote address on behalf of President John Dramani Mahama at the opening of the 4th Inter-Parliamentary Conference on African Family Values and Sovereignty in Accra, Mr Debrah emphasized that Africa’s future would be determined not only by economic growth, infrastructure and technology, but also by the principles and values its people choose to defend.
“The future of Africa will not be shaped only by our economies,” he said. “It will also be shaped by the values we choose to uphold.”
Addressing more than 300 delegates from 20 African countries, the Chief of Staff described the conference as a timely gathering at a moment when debates about sovereignty, identity, governance and development are gaining renewed urgency across the continent.
Drawing attention to Ghana’s historic role in Africa’s liberation struggle, he reminded participants that it was from Ghana that the call for African freedom resonated across the continent and where Dr Kwame Nkrumah boldly proclaimed that Africans were capable of governing themselves and determining their own destiny.
Mr Debrah also commended Uganda and President Yoweri Museveni for providing leadership in sustaining the continental initiative, saying Ghana was honoured to host the fourth edition and remained committed to advancing its vision.
He argued that sovereignty must go beyond constitutional declarations and political rhetoric, insisting that its true measure lies in a nation’s ability to improve the lives of its citizens.
“A sovereign nation must be capable of feeding its people, educating its children, protecting its vulnerable, creating opportunities for its youth and financing its own development priorities,” he stated.
According to him, citizens judge sovereignty not by speeches but by whether governments deliver jobs, quality education, healthcare and reliable public services.
“The ultimate expression of sovereignty is the capacity of a nation to solve the problems of its people,” he said.
The Chief of Staff further cautioned that cultural sovereignty could not be sustained without economic independence, urging African countries to strengthen domestic production, support local enterprise and expand regional trade.
“Dependency, in whatever form it appears, ultimately weakens sovereignty,” he noted.
On family values, Mr Debrah described the family as the primary building block of African societies where values are transmitted, identities are formed and resilience is nurtured. However, he observed that rapid urbanisation, changing labour markets and rising living costs were placing increasing strain on households across the continent.
He therefore called for family-centred policies that promote social protection, maternal and child health, decent employment and economic opportunities.
“Strong families are built not only on values but also on opportunity,” he said.
The Chief of Staff also underscored the critical role of Parliament in safeguarding democratic legitimacy and translating national aspirations into enduring laws, noting that legislators have a responsibility to build consensus around principles that strengthen society while preserving Africa’s cultural heritage.
He further urged governments to invest in indigenous languages, creative industries and traditional institutions to cultivate cultural confidence among younger generations.
Highlighting youth empowerment as central to Africa’s future, Mr Debrah warned that hopelessness, rather than technology or globalisation, poses the greatest threat to African values.
“A young person who sees opportunity in their own country becomes a stakeholder in its future. A young person who sees no future becomes vulnerable to every form of disillusionment,” he said.
Reaffirming Africa’s commitment to international cooperation, he stressed that partnerships must respect the continent’s right to determine its own developmental path.
The conference is expected to deliberate on family values, cultural identity, governance and sovereignty, with participants working towards the adoption of principles for an African Charter on Family Values and Sovereignty aligned with the African Union’s Agenda 2063 vision.
By: Christian Kpesese
