Mahama warns global instability threatens sustainable development gains

President John Dramani Mahama has cautioned that the growing trend of global instability risks undermining decades of progress made under international development frameworks.

Speaking at the Global Leaders’ Meeting on Women in Beijing, China, on Monday, Mahama said the erosion of multilateral cooperation was jeopardizing the collective achievements of the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) and the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

“The global order is changing rapidly, threatening to reverse the gains made under the Millennium Development Goals and the ongoing Sustainable Development Goals,” he warned. “Our rules-based trading systems are being jettisoned, giving way to more unilateral actions by some global players.”

Mahama emphasized that global solidarity was essential for maintaining equity and stability, especially for developing nations.

“In this unpredictable environment, we need to focus on safeguarding the gains made by our women and other vulnerable groups since the Beijing conference thirty years ago,” he said.

He urged world leaders to recommit to the principles of cooperation, justice, and inclusivity, warning that without shared responsibility, the vision of sustainable development could falter.

“When global players act unilaterally, it is the developing nations that bear the brunt,” he noted.

The Ghanaian president also used the platform to showcase Ghana’s commitment to inclusive governance and social protection as a model for resilience amid global uncertainty.

He pointed to national programmes such as the Livelihood Empowerment Against Poverty (LEAP) initiative, the Ghana School Feeding Programme, and the upcoming Ghana Medical Care Trust Fund, which seeks to ensure equitable healthcare access.

“These interventions are anchored in a strong legal and policy framework that protects the most vulnerable and sustains social stability,” Mahama said.

He argued that economic inclusion, particularly through reforms like the Women’s Development Bank and policies reserving 50% of microfinance funds for women, contributes to a more balanced and resilient national economy.

President Mahama urged nations to rebuild trust in global partnerships. “The future of sustainable development depends on our ability to act collectively,” he stated. “We must move beyond self-interest and reaffirm our shared humanity through cooperation and mutual respect.”

President John Dramani Mahama and First Lady, Mrs Lordina Dramani Mahama, are in Beijing, China, to participate in a Global Leaders’ Meeting on Women.

Hosted by President Xi Jinping and UN Women, the 13 and 14 October, meeting will bring together other world leaders to “renew the spirit of the Beijing Declaration and accelerate its implementation.”

While in Beijing to champion women’s empowerment, President Mahama and his delegation will also focus on strengthening Sino-Ghanaian ties and investment.

President Mahama will hold discussions with his Chinese counterpart, President Xi Jinping, and with the Premier of the State Council of the People’s Republic of China, His Excellency Li Qiang.