Prez Akufo-Addo calls for overhaul of Africa’s dev cooperation framework
President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo has called for a comprehensive review of Africa’s existing development cooperation framework with international partners, emphasizing the need for a model that directly fosters the continent’s growth and self-reliance.
Speaking at the Fifth Anniversary Lecture Series of the Council on Foreign Relations (CFR)-Ghana in Accra, President Akufo-Addo highlighted the limitations of the current framework, which he argued perpetuates Africa’s dependence on donor support rather than empowering the continent to achieve sustainable development.
“The current framework is riddled with limitations that hinder Africa’s ability to break free from donor dependency in executing development projects,” the President asserted. He advocated for a “new paradigm for development cooperation” that focuses on structural reforms to address the root causes of underdevelopment and promote inclusive growth. According to him, the persistent reliance on raw materials production and export continues to constrain Africa’s economic potential.
“While aid has met some immediate needs and supported development projects, it has also fostered a dependency syndrome that undermines domestic ownership and self-reliance,” President Akufo-Addo stated.
He pointed to the ongoing challenges of poverty, inequality, unemployment, and underdeveloped infrastructure as barriers to Africa’s transformational change. The President stressed that long-term sustainable development must be the focus, rather than short-term projects that do not address these fundamental issues.
President Akufo-Addo urged African nations to prioritize domestic resource mobilization, entrepreneurship, technological advancement, and private sector investment. He also called for significant investment in education, healthcare, human capital development, and digitalization to build resilient economies and reduce reliance on foreign aid.
“By strengthening our domestic capacities, particularly in tax collection, we can decrease our dependency on aid and pave the way for sustainable development,” he said, noting the urgency of this shift in light of the changing geopolitical landscape, where aid budgets in many Western countries are being reduced.
The President also criticized the fragmentation of aid efforts, which he said leads to inefficiencies and duplication. He called for greater harmonization and alignment of aid with national development priorities, urging donors to work collaboratively with African governments to ensure aid is delivered in a coordinated and coherent manner.
“By adopting a more coordinated approach, we can maximize the impact of aid and achieve greater development outcomes,” he added.
President Akufo-Addo also emphasized the importance of the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) agreement, headquartered in Ghana, as a key driver of inclusive growth and industrialization across the continent. He called for its effective implementation to unlock Africa’s potential for economic transformation.
