Mahama to World Partners: Africa Wants Cooperation, Not Cultural Uniformity

Africa remains open to global partnership but will insist on its right to shape its own future, Chief of Staff Dr. Julius Debrah said, closing his address on behalf of President John Dramani Mahama at the 4th African Inter-Parliamentary Conference on Family Sovereignty and Values.

“Africa remains committed to international cooperation, mutual respect, and constructive engagement,” Debrah told delegates. “We value partnerships that advance development, peace, and prosperity. But we also affirm a simple principle: Africa must retain the right to shape its own future.”

He emphasized reciprocity in international relations. “Just as we respect the sovereign choices of others, we expect our own choices to be respected,” he said. “The strength of the global community lies not in uniformity but in mutual respect among diverse people and cultures.”

Speaking to lawmakers gathered in Accra, Debrah said history’s verdict would not rest on conference resolutions alone. “History will not judge us by the resolutions we pass alone,” he noted. “It will judge us by whether we had the courage to preserve what is valuable, the wisdom to reform what must change, and the confidence to define Africa’s future on Africa’s own terms.”

He rejected the idea that Africa lacks capacity. “Our continent does not lack talent. It does not lack resources. It does not lack conviction,” Debrah said. “What Africa requires is sustained leadership, stronger institutions, and shared determination to build societies that reflect the aspirations of our people.”