By: Henrietta Afful
President John Dramani Mahama has returned to Ghana following his participation in the Munich Security Conference in Germany and the 38th African Union Heads of State and Government Summit in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.
He was met on arrival on Monday afternoon by the Vice President Professor Naana Jane Opoku-Agyemang.
Some Presidential Staffers and Ministers of State who were at the Airport to welcome the President include, Mr the Chief of Staff at the Presidency, Julius Debrah, National Security Advisor, Mr Prosper Douglas Kwaku Bani, and the Legal Advisor to the President, Mrs Marietta Brew Appiah-Oppong.
There rest are Minister of Defence, Dr Edward Kofi Omane Boamah, and Minister for the Interior, Alhaji Mohammed Mubarak Muntaka.
In Munich, President Mahama addressed the Opening Townhall Meeting on the topic “Building or Burning Bridges: Economic and Development Cooperation Amid Multi-polarisation.”
He stressed the importance of Africa becoming more self-reliant, particularly in food production, as external aid sources grow increasingly uncertain. Citing the United States Agency for International Development’s (USAID) decision to reduce aid to the continent, he warned that African nations must take proactive steps to safeguard their future.
President Mahama also underscored the escalating threat of climate change, pointing out that Africa is already bearing the brunt of its severe impacts, despite contributing little to global emissions.
He called for immediate global action to support vulnerable nations, while also urging African governments to implement adaptive measures to mitigate the effects and safeguard their communities.
“Climate change is not a distant threat—it is already affecting our agriculture, water supply, and overall economic stability. We need global cooperation to address this crisis, but we must also take responsibility for building climate-resilient economies,” President Mahama said.
President Mahama expressed optimism about Africa’s role in a multipolar world, highlighting the continent’s potential to drive global trade and innovation due to its young, rapidly growing population.
“Trade in Africa is growing exponentially. We have the human resources and the market size to be a major player in the global economy. The challenge is ensuring that African nations cooperate strategically to maximize our collective strength,” he explained.
The event, hosted at Hotel Bayerischer Hof, brought together global leaders, policymakers, and economic experts to engage in discussions on the evolving dynamics of international cooperation.
At the 38th Ordinary Session of the Assembly of Heads of State and Government of the African Union (AU), President Mahama stressed on the importance of African countries mobilizing domestic resources to lessen reliance on external financing and achieve sustainable growth.
He highlighted Africa’s resilience in the face of numerous challenges, with projections forecasting a growth recovery of 3.7% in 2024 and 4.03% in 2025.
