Ghanatodayonline.com News, Politics, Health, Education & More
President John Dramani Mahama has been ranked fifth on the Devex 2026 list of the 50 most influential people in global development.
The ranking recognises his advocacy for a new world order that positions Africa and other developing countries as equal partners in the global economic system, moving beyond traditional aid dependency.
President Mahama’s high ranking is primarily attributed to his leadership of the Accra Reset initiative, a bold framework aimed at redefining Africa’s relationship with the Global North.
His inclusion on the list highlights a significant shift towards a ‘post-aid’ era, with a focus on Economic sovereignty, Domestic resource mobilisation, 24-hour Economy policy intervention and Regional integration.
The list, compiled by Devex, a leading global development media platform, identifies the most influential personalities transforming the world through development and change-making initiatives, described as “tectonic shifts” in the development landscape.
Devex gave this explanation :
Backstory: John Mahama assumed the presidency of Ghana in January. This is his second term — but not his second consecutive term. He was previously elected in 2012, but lost a reelection bid in 2016. He has also served as vice president, in parliament, and in ministerial roles – and was the first cochair of the United Nations Advocacy Group on the Sustainable Development Goals.
Why he’s on the list: Mahama has emerged as a leading voice pushing for a new deal for African development — shaping debates on debt relief, trade reform, and climate finance, arguing that Africa must renegotiate its place in the global economic order rather than simply adapt to declining aid. Last August, he hosted a group of African leaders, policymakers, and global health experts in the Ghanaian capital of Accra, where they launched a new vision toward African health sovereignty — rooted in national ownership and more equitable global cooperation. They then reconvened during the U.N. General Assembly this past September to expand the framework beyond health to development more broadly, and to move beyond the African continent to serve as a global agenda. They’ve dubbed it the “Accra Reset,” an effort to declare an end to the era of development-as-usual and to push for the creation of new governance, business, and financing models in response to the U.S. aid cuts. Mahama has served as the leading, hands-on advocate of this new vision, with former Nigerian President Olusegun Obasanjo advising him.
Source: Ghanatodayonline.com
