On Monday, September 21, President John Dramani Mahama addressed a Presidential Roundtable organised by the Open Society Foundation in New York, coinciding with the 81st UN General Assembly. He urged Global South nations to build stronger institutions, mobilise domestic resources and adopt sustainable financing models to counter mounting debt pressures and a shifting international development landscape.
Mahama said the priority for these countries must be job creation, improved public services, infrastructure development and expanded opportunities for young people. “When I speak about sovereignty in this context, I am speaking about the capacity to act,” he remarked, underscoring the need for governments to act decisively.
The former president stressed the importance of coordination across government, sound financial management and institutions capable of delivering measurable results. He added, “Where an approach proves successful, the next step should be its adoption into public systems, local delivery institutions, and long‑term financing models.”
The roundtable gathered presidents and chief executives of major global foundations to discuss sustainable development, financing and institutional strengthening across the Global South.
Mahama’s remarks highlight a growing consensus that domestic capacity and institutional reform are essential for the region’s long‑term economic resilience.
