President John Dramani Mahama has warned that Africa’s quest for genuine sovereignty continues to be undermined by what he described as a “triple dependency” on external actors for security, social services, and the exploitation of critical minerals.

Addressing the Zambian Parliament on Thursday, February 5, President Mahama said many African countries remain trapped in structural dependencies that limit their ability to chart independent development paths.

“Too many African countries remain trapped in what I describe as a triple dependency — dependency on external actors for security choices, dependency on donors for health and education systems, and dependency on suppliers of critical minerals while capturing little or no value,” he said.

According to him, the situation continues to weaken Africa’s sovereignty and prevents the continent from fully realising its vast potential.

President Mahama observed that Africa is facing what he termed a “pandemic of unfulfilled potential,” marked by high youth unemployment, fragile health systems and economies that extract wealth without building local capacity.

“Africa therefore faces a different pandemic — the pandemic of unfulfilled potential. Millions of our young people remain unemployed, health systems are fragile, and economies extract wealth without building capacity,” he noted.

He stressed the need for African leaders to confront these realities with honesty and practical action, urging a shift towards policies that promote self-reliance, value addition and inclusive growth.

President Mahama referenced his recent engagement with global leaders at the World Economic Forum in Davos, where he highlighted the Accra Reset Initiative as part of efforts to reposition Africa’s development agenda.

“Only days ago, I had the opportunity to address global leaders in Davos, where I spoke about the Accra Reset Initiative and the urgent need for Africa to redefine its development trajectory,” he said.

Despite the challenges, President Mahama expressed optimism that Africa could turn its current difficulties into an opportunity for renewal and transformation.

“History teaches us that a crisis can sharpen resolve, and so Africa must take its destiny into its own hands,” he stated.

President Mahama is in Zambia on a three-day state visit aimed at strengthening bilateral relations and deepening cooperation between Ghana and Zambia across key sectors.