President Mahama and Minister Ablakwa Champion African-Led Peace and Leadership Reform at AU Summits in Luanda

President John Dramani Mahama and Foreign Affairs Minister Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa are representing Ghana at high-level African Union (AU) meetings in Luanda, Angola, aimed at addressing the continent's most pressing security and developmental challenges. Attending the 21st Extraordinary Session of the Assembly of Heads of State and Government, President Mahama joined fellow leaders to tackle rising instability in regions such as Sudan, the Sahel, and the Eastern Democratic Republic of Congo. Simultaneously, Minister Ablakwa participated in the 26th Extraordinary Session of the AU Executive Council, where both leaders advocated for a fundamental shift in how Africa manages its security, financing, and natural wealth to benefit its burgeoning youth population.

Central to President Mahama’s agenda is the demand for Africa to take financial ownership of its security architecture. The President emphasized that the continent must develop a sustainable and predictable financing model to reduce its heavy reliance on external sources. He welcomed the adoption of UN Security Council Resolution 2719, which facilitates UN contributions to African-led operations, but maintained that the African Union Peace Fund remains a critical tool for self-reliance. Mahama urged member states to implement resource mobilization strategies that ensure African-led peace initiatives are adequately supported, arguing that effective conflict resolution requires locally-driven and locally-funded mechanisms.

Building on this theme of systemic change, Minister Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa called for a "new leadership paradigm" that prioritizes the root causes of conflict over mere crisis management. Ablakwa highlighted the tragic reality of African youth migration, noting that over 2,180 young people lost their lives last year while seeking better opportunities abroad. He argued that simply increasing peace funding would be insufficient without a transformative approach to governance and equitable resource distribution. By focusing on industrialization and job creation, Ablakwa contended that Africa’s vast natural resources could be converted into tangible benefits, providing the continent’s youth with the stability and prosperity needed to end the cycle of emigration and violence.

In addition to security and economic reforms, President Mahama utilized his platform as the AU Champion for Reparations to update the Assembly on the progress of reparative justice for the historical injustices of slavery. He noted a growing international momentum, with various nations and institutions beginning to acknowledge their roles in the slave trade and exploring reparatory measures. As the Luanda sessions conclude, the AU is expected to adopt a comprehensive plan to strengthen peace and security frameworks across the continent. This integrated approach—combining financial independence, leadership reform, and historical justice—remains the cornerstone of Ghana's vision for a more stable and self-sufficient Africa.