Africa must abandon outdated global development assumptions and urgently realign its institutions and partnerships to secure prosperity in a rapidly shifting world, President John Dramani Mahama has declared.

Speaking at the “Accra Reset: Addis Reckoning” event in Addis Ababa on the sidelines of the African Union Summit on Saturday 14th February 2026, President Mahama said the continent has reached a turning point it cannot afford to ignore.

“We gather this morning not to add another side event to a crowded summit calendar. We are here because Africa has reached a turning point we cannot afford to ignore,” he stated.

According to him, fractures in global supply chains, tighter financing conditions, and rapid technological change have exposed weaknesses in international systems, making it imperative for Africa to rethink its engagement with the world.

President Mahama explained that the Accra Reset is not a slogan but an operational framework aligning finance, health, trade, skills development and technology into a unified transformation strategy. He revealed that discussions began at the Health Sovereignty Summit in Accra, progressed at the United Nations General Assembly and the World Economic Forum in Davos, and are now entering implementation.

The President announced the formation of a High-Level Panel on the Reform of the Global Health Architecture to reposition health systems as drivers of productivity and economic stability.

“Through the Accra Reset, every finance minister now understands that health is the foundation of productivity and stability,” he said.

On economic sovereignty, he disclosed that technical work has begun on a Sovereign Negotiators Certification Programme to train a new generation of African dealmakers to handle complex negotiations in technology, minerals and finance.

He also highlighted trade and mobility initiatives, including the AfCFTA Hub and a Global Digital Skills Passport to ensure African qualifications gain cross-border recognition. President Mahama noted that renewed global partnerships inspired by a “New Bandung Spirit” are expanding opportunities for technological learning and digital trade, while artificial intelligence is being integrated into Africa’s industrial planning and governance systems.

Rejectting what he described as a “false choice” between ambition and realism, he stressed:

“Ambition becomes realistic when institutions align, partners listen, and execution becomes a shared responsibility.”

President Mahama called for firm commitments on critical minerals supply chains, repatriation of sovereign foreign exchange reserves, sustainable health financing, and digital skills development.

“This morning is not a conclusion. It marks the beginning of a more disciplined phase in which ideas must prove themselves through delivery… It is time to commit. It is time to transform,” he concluded.