Mahama: Strong institutions, domestic financing key to Global South dev’t

President John Dramani Mahama has called for stronger domestic capacity, effective institutions and sustainable financing as countries in the Global South navigate mounting debt pressures and disruptions in the international development landscape.

Speaking at a Presidential Roundtable organised by the Open Society Foundation in New York on Monday, September 21, 2026, on the sidelines of the 81st United Nations General Assembly, President Mahama said countries must strengthen their ability to respond to changing global conditions while taking greater ownership of their development priorities.

He said the focus should remain on creating jobs, improving public services, developing infrastructure and expanding opportunities, particularly for young people.

“When I speak about sovereignty in this context, I am speaking about the capacity to act.”

President Mahama acknowledged that countries such as Ghana still have significant work to do to achieve greater ownership of their development trajectories.

He called for stronger coordination across government, better preparation of programmes and projects, increased domestic resource mobilisation, sound financial management and institutions capable of delivering measurable results.

“We need stronger coordination across government, better preparation of programs and projects, greater domestic resource mobilisation, sound financial management, and institutions that can demonstrate clear results,” he said.

The President also urged countries to leverage expertise and capabilities outside government, including civil society, businesses, academia and local communities, as part of efforts to strengthen national development systems.

He further called on international partners and philanthropic organisations to move beyond short-term interventions and place greater emphasis on long-term capability building.

According to him, international cooperation should support national capacity and work through local systems where those systems meet the required standards, while avoiding unnecessary duplication and maintaining accountability.

President Mahama also highlighted the potential role of foundations in financing public goods and strengthening institutional capacity in areas where commercial financing may not be readily available.

“Where an approach proves successful, the next step should be its adoption into public systems, local delivery institutions, and long-term financing models,” he said.

The roundtable brought together presidents and chief executives of major global foundations to discuss sustainable development, financing and institutional strengthening across the Global South.

Participants included representatives from major philanthropic organisations such as the Gates, Ford, Open Society, Hewlett Packard, Hilton, Rockefeller, Humanity United, Chandler and UBS Optimus foundations.

The engagement formed part of President Mahama’s activities on the sidelines of the 81st UN General Assembly, where he is also participating in discussions on global development, regional integration and Ghana’s economic priorities.

The roundtable was held as part of the broader Accra Reset: Full Circle – Making Global Development Work Again programme in New York, which focused on the future of global development and the need for stronger country-led solutions.