Mahama urges Africa to chart own course amid growing geopolitical tensions

President John Dramani Mahama has sounded a stark warning to African leaders at the Tana Forum, urging the continent to take control of its own destiny rather than allow itself to become a geopolitical pawn in the hands of rival world powers. The President's call comes at a time when global competition for influence in Africa—particularly between traditional Western powers and emerging actors—threatens to undermine the continent's sovereignty and development agenda.

At the forum, Mahama stressed that Africa must actively shape the emerging global order rather than passively react to external pressures. His message reflects growing concerns across the continent about how major powers are competing for resources, strategic positioning, and political influence in Africa, often at the expense of African interests and stability.

The African Continental Free Trade Area as a unifying force

Central to Mahama's argument is the role of the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA), which he identified as a cornerstone for achieving both economic integration and peace on the continent. The AfCFTA, which aims to boost intra-African trade and create a unified market of over 1.3 billion people, represents one of Africa's most ambitious attempts at economic self-determination. By strengthening trade ties between African nations, Mahama argued, the continent can reduce its economic dependence on external powers and build resilience against external manipulation.

The President's emphasis on the AfCFTA reflects a broader recognition among African policymakers that economic integration is essential not only for growth, but for political stability. When African nations are deeply interconnected through trade and investment, the theory goes, they have greater incentives to resolve disputes peacefully and collectively resist external pressure.

Why it matters for Ghana and Africa

Ghana, as one of Africa's most stable democracies and a key player in West African politics, has a particular stake in preventing the continent from becoming a geopolitical battleground. Increased rivalry among global powers in Africa could destabilise the region through proxy conflicts, arms proliferation, and the manipulation of local disputes by external actors. For Ghana specifically, greater African unity and economic integration offer pathways to increased prosperity and security.

The geopolitical warning also arrives amid real concerns about the expansion of military presence by various powers across Africa. The presence of multiple foreign militaries, competing spheres of influence, and the use of African conflicts as testing grounds for global rivalries pose genuine threats to continental peace and development. Mahama's call for Africa to define its own geopolitical position is a reminder that African nations must collectively assert their interests in international forums and refuse to be divided along Cold War-style lines.

The Tana Forum, held annually in Ethiopia, brings together African leaders, diplomats, and analysts to discuss continental challenges. Mahama's intervention at this platform underscores Ghana's commitment to continental leadership on issues of sovereignty and development.

For African nations to succeed in this vision, experts note that stronger coordination through bodies like the African Union, coupled with accelerated implementation of the AfCFTA, will be essential. Only through genuine unity and shared economic interests can Africa ensure that its voice carries weight in shaping global decisions that affect the continent.