Ghana has urged the international community to rethink the way development cooperation is structured, calling for a more equitable system that gives developing countries greater control over their own priorities.
Speaking on behalf of President John Dramani Mahama at a high-level conference organised by the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development in Paris, Nana Oye Bampoe Addo, Deputy Chief of Staff (Administration) at the Office of the President, presented Ghana’s vision for a new development framework known as the Accra Reset.
The two-day conference, held at the OECD headquarters, brought together about 250 global development leaders to discuss the future of international development cooperation.
Nana Oye Bampoe Addo said recent declines in global aid flows underscore the need for a more sustainable and country-led approach to development financing.
Citing OECD figures, she noted that Official Development Assistance from Development Assistance Committee member countries fell by 23.1 per cent in real terms in 2025, representing a reduction of about US$50 billion. Bilateral aid to sub-Saharan Africa dropped by more than 26 per cent, while humanitarian assistance declined by nearly 36 per cent.
She said the figures highlight the vulnerability of developing countries that continue to rely heavily on external support while also facing significant debt burdens.
“Africa’s governments collectively service more than US$80 billion in debt each year, compared with about US$95 billion in total external inflows,” she said.
Ghana presents the Accra Reset agenda
Nana Oye Bampoe Addo described the Accra Reset as a Head-of-State-led initiative aimed at reshaping global development partnerships to reflect the priorities and realities of countries in the Global South.
Co-founded by President Mahama, the initiative brings together leaders from Africa, Latin America and the Caribbean to advocate reforms that strengthen sovereign capacity, institutional development and mutual accountability.
She outlined three key pillars of the initiative.
The first focuses on health sector reform through a High-Level Panel on Reform of the Global Health Architecture and Governance, as well as the Health Investment National Gateways Enabler (HINGE), which is designed to turn health commitments into bankable investments within two years.
The second centres on economic transformation through Sovereign Prosperity Spheres, which seek to support regional industrial cooperation and create financing mechanisms linked to strategic minerals such as gold and cobalt.
The third pillar is institutional capacity building through the Sankoree Institute of Global Negotiators and Masterkey, a digital skills passport expected to facilitate 150,000 cross-border employment opportunities within five years, with 70 per cent targeted at women.
Appeal to the OECD
On behalf of Ghana, Nana Oye Bampoe Addo called on the OECD to ensure that the perspectives of initiatives such as the Accra Reset are reflected in its flagship reports and policy reviews.
She also urged the organisation to engage more deeply with what she described as “sovereign delivery architecture” and to ensure that the principle of mutual benefit in development cooperation does not disproportionately place risk on poorer countries.
Bilateral talks with OECD officials
On the sidelines of the conference, Nana Oye Bampoe Addo and Ghana’s Ambassador to France, Mavis Ama Frimpong, held discussions with Pilar Garrido, Director of Development Co-operation at the OECD.
The meeting explored opportunities for closer collaboration between the Accra Reset initiative and the OECD.
Visit to Ghana Embassy in Paris
During the second day of her visit, Nana Oye Bampoe Addo met staff of the Ghana Embassy in Paris, where she was briefed on ongoing initiatives, including efforts to strengthen trade ties between Ghana and France and Ghana’s campaign to regain a seat on the board of UNESCO.
She also updated embassy staff on progress being made under the Accra Reset and reaffirmed the government’s commitment to repositioning Ghana as a leading voice in international development policy.
About the Accra Reset
The Accra Reset is a global development initiative championed by President Mahama to promote a more balanced and accountable system of international cooperation.
The initiative seeks to ensure that developing countries are not merely recipients of aid, but equal partners in shaping the policies and institutions that influence their economic and social progress.
