President John Dramani Mahama has called for stronger national institutions, domestic resource mobilisation and greater self-reliance as countries navigate major shifts in the global economic and development landscape.

Speaking at an Open Society Foundations presidential roundtable on the sidelines of the 81st United Nations General Assembly in New York, President Mahama said countries in the Global South were facing significant pressures, including rising debt and changes in the global economic order.

He said the situation should also serve as an opportunity for countries to strengthen their institutions, improve governance and build the capacity to take greater ownership of their development priorities.

“This is when we must create jobs for our people, improve public services, build infrastructure, and expand opportunity, especially for our young people,” he said.

President Mahama said Ghana and other African countries must develop the capacity to pursue their development priorities with greater confidence and continuity despite changes in the international environment.

He pointed to the African Union’s Agenda 2063 as a framework for achieving productive economies, stronger institutions, deeper regional integration and expanded opportunities across the continent.

According to him, African governments must now strengthen the institutions, financing mechanisms and delivery systems required to turn those ambitions into tangible results.

On Ghana’s Accra Reset initiative, President Mahama said the initiative was focused on helping countries respond more effectively to a changing world while building more balanced relationships with international partners.

“The Accra Reset asks what countries need to act with urgency in a changing world, and what a more balanced relationship with international partners could look like,” he said.

He explained that sovereignty, in this context, should be understood as the capacity of a country to set its priorities, negotiate effectively, mobilise resources and implement its decisions.

“When I speak about sovereignty in this context, I speak about the capacity to act. A country needs to be able to set its priorities, negotiate effectively, mobilise resources, and follow through on its decisions,” he stated.

Addressing Ghana’s own development challenges, President Mahama acknowledged the need for stronger coordination across government, better preparation of projects and programmes, improved domestic revenue mobilisation and sound financial management.

He also called for greater collaboration with civil society, businesses, academia and local communities to complement government efforts.

“We need stronger coordination across government, better preparation of programs and projects, greater domestic resource mobilisation, sound financial management, and institutions that can demonstrate clear results,” he said.

“We must also leverage capabilities outside government, including civil society, business, academia, and local communities and carry our share of the responsibility if we want greater room to lead,” he added.

President Mahama further urged international development partners and philanthropic organisations to move beyond short-term interventions and place greater emphasis on building sustainable local capacity.

He called for stronger support for national institutions and local systems, while maintaining appropriate standards of accountability.

“Can international cooperation do more to build national capability and work through local systems when they meet required standards? Can we reduce unnecessary duplication while protecting accountability?” he questioned.

He said philanthropic organisations could play an important role in supporting health, education, governance, research and other public goods, particularly in areas where commercial financing may not be readily available.

According to the President, successful programmes supported by foundations and development partners should ultimately be integrated into public systems, local institutions and sustainable long-term financing arrangements.