Former President of Ghana, Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo, has called on African nations to adopt a more strategic, united, and self-determined approach in navigating today’s increasingly multipolar world order. He delivered this message as the keynote speaker at the Strategic Meeting of the Konrad Adenauer Stiftung’s (KAS) African Team and its political partners, held on Wednesday, 10th September, at the Kempinski Gold Coast Hotel in Accra.
The high-level gathering marked the culmination of the annual meeting of all KAS Country Representatives in Africa, alongside members of the Foundation’s Board from Berlin, Germany. The event brought together diplomats, political actors, and development experts to reflect on Africa’s role in a rapidly changing geopolitical landscape.
Prior to the main event, the former President hosted a private meeting at his office in Accra with Professor Norbert Lammert, former Speaker of the German Parliament and Chairman of the Konrad Adenauer Foundation, along with other senior KAS officials from the organisation’s global headquarters.
In his address, President Akufo-Addo discussed the evolving dynamics of international cooperation and the geopolitical shifts affecting the African continent. He noted that in a world where global influence is now increasingly shared among powers such as the United States, China, Russia, the European Union, India, and the expanding BRICS alliance, now including Egypt and Ethiopia, Africa faces both risks and opportunities.
“In this fast-paced, multipolar global order, African nations must elude attempts to turn our continent into an arena of great-power rivalries,” President Akufo-Addo warned. “Our sovereignty and development aspirations must not be compromised or subordinated to external interests.”
He emphasized that African countries must be deliberate in building unity, diversifying international partnerships, and strengthening regional economic integration. He pointed to the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) as a critical tool for transforming the continent’s economic fortunes and amplifying its voice on the global stage.
The Konrad Adenauer Stiftung (KAS), a German political foundation aligned with the Christian Democratic Union (CDU), has been a long-standing partner in promoting democratic governance, rule of law, and development cooperation across Africa.
President Akufo-Addo’s remarks added a significant voice to ongoing discussions on how African nations can reposition themselves amid shifting global power centers and leverage the continent’s collective strength for sustainable development.
Enock Akonnor is an experienced Ghanaian journalist, based in Kumasi and currently serves as the CEO and Managing Editor of www.leakyghana.com.
With a wealth of expertise built over many years in the media industry, he has earned a solid reputation as one of Ghana’s most sought-after journalists.
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