President John Mahama of Ghana has emphasized the importance of accountability in the management of development programs. Speaking at a high-level side event on the Accra Reset: Global Reset Dialogue in New York on September 21, 2026, he noted that countries in the Global South must ensure their governments remain accountable to citizens. This, he believes, is crucial for achieving genuine sovereignty over development priorities.
The Accra Reset initiative aims to give countries greater control over decisions affecting their development and health systems. However, President Mahama cautioned that simply transferring power from international institutions to national governments is not enough. He stressed that accountability must be ensured at the national level to achieve true sovereignty. This involves demonstrating responsible exercise of authority by national governments.
President Mahama used the example of Ghana's Resetting Ghana Agenda to illustrate his point. The agenda includes measures to tighten fiscal controls, fight corruption, and ensure accountability of public funds. He emphasized that every public cedi must be accounted for down to the last pesewa. This, he believes, is essential for earning the right to control development programs.
The President's remarks are part of a broader call for a New Global Bargain. This initiative seeks to match responsibility with authority and hold partners accountable for their commitments. President Mahama believes that countries must demonstrate their ability to exercise authority responsibly before they can demand greater control over their development programs.
The Global South, a term used to describe countries in Africa, Asia, and Latin America, has been seeking greater control over development programs. President Mahama's remarks are likely to resonate with many countries in the region. His emphasis on accountability is seen as a crucial element in achieving genuine sovereignty.
President Mahama's speech at the United Nations General Assembly side event highlights the challenges facing countries in the Global South. He noted that transferring power from international institutions to national governments is not enough; national governments must also be accountable to their citizens. This, he believes, is essential for achieving development goals.
In conclusion, President Mahama's remarks emphasize the importance of accountability in the management of development programs. He believes that countries must demonstrate their ability to exercise authority responsibly before they can demand greater control over their development programs. The New Global Bargain initiative, which he supports, seeks to match responsibility with authority and hold partners accountable for their commitments.
Key points
- President Mahama emphasizes that countries must demonstrate accountability to citizens before they can demand greater control over development programs.
