President John Dramani Mahama has been listed as one of the 50 most powerful people
President John Dramani Mahama has been ranked fifth on a list of the 50 most powerful people shaping global development and change making by respected international publication DEVEX, in recognition of his leadership in championing the “Accra Reset.”
According to DEVEX, the list highlights individuals “who are transforming development as we know it,” noting that influence in today’s development space is no longer limited to well-known political figures.
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“The most powerful are often the behind-the-scenes players, whether in government, philanthropy, artificial intelligence, multilateral finance, or health, reinventing the concept of helping people in what many see as a post-aid era,” the publication said.
DEVEX added that while global figures such as US President Donald Trump have reshaped foreign aid systems, the real drivers of change are those redefining development models amid declining traditional aid.
Explaining why President Mahama made the top five, DEVEX described him as “a leading voice pushing for a new deal for African development,” particularly on issues of debt relief, trade reform, and climate finance.
The publication said President Mahama has consistently argued that Africa must “renegotiate its place in the global economic order rather than simply adapt to declining aid.”
It recalled that in August last year [2025], President Mahama hosted African leaders, policymakers, and global health experts in Accra, where they launched a new vision for African health sovereignty based on national ownership and fairer global cooperation.
DEVEX further noted that the initiative was expanded beyond health during the United Nations General Assembly in September, evolving into a broader development agenda with global relevance.
“They’ve dubbed it the ‘Accra Reset,’ an effort to declare an end to the era of development-as-usual and to push for the creation of new governance, business, and financing models in response to the US aid cuts,” the publication stated.
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It added that President Mahama has emerged as “the leading, hands-on advocate of this new vision,” with former Nigerian President Olusegun Obasanjo serving as an adviser to the process.
MAG/MA
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Source:
www.ghanaweb.com
