Standing before world leaders in Davos, President John Dramani Mahama used the global spotlight not just to speak about Ghana’s recovery, but to raise a deeper concern about Africa’s shared future.
Speaking at the World Economic Forum Annual Meeting 2026 in Davos, Switzerland, Mahama reflected on the economic progress his government has recorded in just one year back in office. He told the international audience that Ghana’s recent turnaround proves that accountable leadership and functioning democratic systems can still deliver real results.
“We are restoring hope, and we’re building systems that work. In my first year of being back in office, we’ve shown that democracy works and that change is possible when leadership is focused and accountable to the people,” he said.
The president pointed to Ghana’s shift from a debt-distressed, crisis-hit economy to one showing renewed stability, marked by single-digit inflation, a stronger currency and rising business confidence. According to him, these gains reflect deliberate efforts to rebuild trust, stabilise the economy and restore investor confidence.
Despite the progress, Mahama admitted that Ghana’s success on its own does not sit well with him. He said the country’s achievements would be incomplete unless they are tied to the progress of the entire African continent, echoing the Pan-African ideals of Ghana’s first president, Osagyefo Dr Kwame Nkrumah.
“But here’s what keeps me up at night: Ghana’s success alone is not enough,” he said. “However admirable Ghana’s turnaround story is, we cannot be a jewel in the dust. We must work together as Africa.”
Mahama stressed that Africa’s future depends on cooperation, shared growth and the ability to scale success across borders. He explained that Davos offers a platform not only to tell Ghana’s story, but to connect success stories from Africa and the Global South into a broader development agenda.
“We must knit together the patchwork of success stories. That is why we’re here in Davos today to take what’s working across many countries in Africa and the Global South and scale it up across others, moving from resetting one country to resetting the entire development model for the Global South,” he added.
