President John Dramani Mahama has cautioned that Africa’s pursuit of true sovereignty remains constrained by deep structural dependence on external actors for security, social services and the exploitation of critical natural resources.

Addressing Zambia’s Parliament on Thursday, February 5, President Mahama said many African nations continue to operate within systems that limit their ability to determine independent development pathways and fully harness their economic potential.

He described the situation as a “triple dependency”, noting that African countries rely heavily on foreign partners for security decisions, donor funding for essential services such as health and education, and external entities for the extraction and control of critical minerals.

According to the President, these dependencies collectively weaken the continent’s sovereignty and undermine long term development efforts.

President Mahama further observed that Africa is grappling with what he termed a “pandemic of unfulfilled potential”, characterised by widespread youth unemployment, fragile healthcare systems and economic structures that extract wealth without building domestic capacity.

He stressed that despite Africa’s vast human and natural resources, the benefits often fail to translate into sustainable growth and improved living standards for citizens.

The President urged African leaders to confront these challenges candidly and adopt policies that prioritise self reliance, value addition and inclusive economic growth. He said Africa must move beyond dependency driven models and embrace development strategies that strengthen local institutions and industries.

President Mahama also referenced his recent engagement with global leaders at the World Economic Forum in Davos, where he highlighted the Accra Reset Initiative as a framework for redefining Africa’s development agenda in a changing global landscape.

He expressed confidence that the continent could transform its current challenges into opportunities for renewal, provided leaders demonstrate resolve and collective action.

President Mahama is currently in Zambia on a three day state visit aimed at strengthening diplomatic ties and expanding cooperation between Ghana and Zambia in key development sectors.