Ghana’s President, John Dramani Mahama, has been ranked as the 5th Most Powerful person globally in development and changemaking by international development publication Devex.
This recognition is attributed to his contributions to advancing the Accra Reset agenda. President Mahama is among a select group of global figures influencing the future of development amidst significant shifts in international aid, financing, and global cooperation.
Devex noted that he has emerged as a prominent voice advocating for a new approach to African development, pushing for reforms in debt relief, trade, and climate finance, rather than traditional aid-dependent models.
According to Devex, Africa needs to renegotiate its position in the global economic order rather than merely adapting to decreasing foreign aid.
The Accra Reset is highlighted as a defining aspect of Mahama’s influence, where he convened African leaders, policymakers, and global health experts to launch a vision for African health sovereignty anchored in national ownership and equitable global cooperation.
The initiative was later broadened beyond health to overall development during the United Nations General Assembly, positioning the Accra Reset as a global agenda. Devex described the Accra Reset as an effort to end “development-as-usual” and push for new governance, business, and financing models in response to cuts in U.S. foreign aid.
President Mahama is noted as a hands-on leader of the initiative.
The ranking is part of Devex’s Power 50 list, which identifies individuals transforming development in a post-aid era.
Those ranked ahead of President Mahama include Benjamin Black, CEO of the U.S. International Development Finance Corporation; Sidi Ould Tah, President of the African Development Bank; Anna Makanju, Vice President, Global Impact | Openai; and Alexander Berger, Cofounder and CEO of Coefficient Giving.
Devex stated that the development sector has experienced significant shifts as major donors retrench and new actors emerge, with attention shifting to philanthropy, development finance institutions, and the private sector.
By: Rainbowradioonline.com/Ghana
