President Mahama unveils new deal with global philanthropy
President Mahama made the call at a high-level presidential funders’ roundtable in New York
President John Dramani Mahama unveiled a new approach to Ghana's relationship with global philanthropy, moving away from fragmented and short-term interventions. Addressing a roundtable of major American philanthropic organizations in New York, Mahama emphasized the need for partnerships that bolster national institutions, build local capacity, and align development outcomes with Ghana's priorities.
The event, organized by Open Society Foundations during the UN General Assembly, brought together leaders from foundations such as the Gates Foundation and the Ford Foundation. Mahama argued that the changing global development landscape presents an opportunity for Ghana and other Global South countries to rethink their relationship with international partners.
He stressed that development finance can fluctuate quickly, and funding priorities can change, making it crucial to build institutional capabilities that enable countries to control their own development. Ghana's Agenda 2063 has a clear vision for development, but translating this vision into action requires stronger institutions capable of executing programs and managing resources effectively.
Mahama introduced Ghana's Accra Reset, which centers on the principle that sovereignty must be matched by the capacity to exercise it. He challenged international partners to ensure their approaches strengthen national institutions and provide them with greater autonomy. Philanthropy can play a unique role by supporting areas like institutional capacity, early-stage program development, public goods, social priorities, and evidence generation.
To facilitate this new approach, Mahama designated the Millennium Development Authority (MiDA) as Ghana's focal point for international philanthropic partnerships. MiDA will serve as the government's primary liaison with donors, ensuring transparency, accountability, and effective coordination among all stakeholders. Mahama invited the philanthropic organizations to explore new areas of collaboration, tailoring their support to Ghana's development priorities, whether through grants, expertise, research, or attracting additional investment.
He stressed that Ghana must be ready to lead, coordinate, and account for the outcomes resulting from these partnerships.
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