Mahama bemoans ‘triple dependency’ syndrome of African nations

President John Dramani Mahama warned that Africa’s sovereignty is weakened by a “triple dependency” that leaves countries reliant on external security and raw mineral exports.

Addressing Zambia’s National Assembly in Lusaka on Thursday, the Ghanaian leader said too many African states remain “trapped” by structural dependencies that limit policy autonomy and long-term development.

“Dependency on external actors for security choices, dependency on donors for health and education systems, and dependency on supplies of critical minerals while capturing little or no value,” he said, describing the condition as corrosive to genuine sovereignty.

Mahama argued that exporting raw resources without domestic value addition perpetuates underdevelopment and foregoes industrial capacity.

“This condition undermines genuine sovereignty,” he told lawmakers, urging African governments to rethink economic models that prioritise extraction over capacity-building.

Drawing lessons from history, the President said moments of crisis can catalyse reform.

“History teaches us that a crisis can sharpen resolve, and so Africa must take its destiny into its own hands,” he said, framing current global disruptions as an opportunity for structural change rather than resignation.

He broadened the diagnosis to what he termed a “different pandemic” confronting the continent. “Africa therefore faces a different pandemic, the pandemic of unfulfilled potential,” Mahama said, pointing to persistent youth unemployment, fragile health systems, and economies that “extract wealth without building capacity.”

The President called for candour and realism in policy choices. “Africa must confront this changing reality with transparency and pragmatism,” he said, stressing that rhetoric without reform would deepen public frustration, especially among young people.

Mahama referenced recent engagements with global leaders to underscore the urgency of recalibration.

“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.

He explained that the initiative seeks to align macroeconomic stability with industrialisation, skills development, and regional value chains, arguing that Africa’s demographic dividend can only be realised through jobs, productivity, and domestic enterprise.

Mahama’s address drew attention to the responsibilities of African leadership as well as the need for partnerships that prioritise value creation.

He urged legislators and policymakers across the continent to pursue reforms that reduce dependency and anchor development in local capacity, saying Africa’s future hinges on choices made now.