Former Nigerian President Olusegun Obasanjo has praised President John Dramani Mahama’s leadership in advancing a new model of Global South–driven development reform, announcing the formal commencement of the Accra Reset’s interim Secretariat at the G20 Leaders’ Summit in Johannesburg.
Delivering the address on behalf of President Mahama who leads the Accra Reset initiative and serves as the African Union Champion for Reparations, Obasanjo told world leaders that the platform has expanded its Circle of Leaders to include more than two dozen former Heads of State and international organisation leaders from Africa, Asia, Latin America, Europe, and the Caribbean.
Obasanjo conveyed President Mahama’s gratitude to South African President Cyril Ramaphosa, commending his stewardship of the G20.
“President Mahama extends his deep appreciation to H.E. President Cyril Ramaphosa, whose leadership has guided this G20 cycle with clarity, courage, and profound commitment to justice,” Obasanjo said.
A Shift Away From Dependency
Obasanjo described the Accra Reset as a fundamental departure from decades of orthodox development models that, he said, have entrenched economic dependence across the Global South.
“The Accra Reset represents a shift away from an economy of dependency created by traditional aid and loans,” he stated. “To move forward, we must re-architect our economies based on trade and investment.”
He emphasised that the initiative seeks to rebuild international development cooperation into a system that is:
“country-led, regionally empowered, and globally coherent.”
Launch of the Accra Secretariat
The announcement of the initiative’s interim Secretariat in Accra marks the beginning of a new strategic phase. According to Obasanjo, President Mahama envisions the Accra Reset as a vehicle to ensure that emerging global governance reforms are:
“co-created, not imposed; negotiated with fairness, not inherited from history.”
A High-Level Panel is being convened to produce a landmark report on restructuring global governance. The report will be submitted to a commissioning authority composed of Heads of State from both the Global North and Global South.
Alignment With South Africa’s G20 Presidency
Obasanjo applauded the priorities championed by South Africa’s G20 Presidency led by President Ramaphosa citing its alignment with the Accra Reset’s mission. These priorities include:
a more equitable global financial architecture,
strengthened global health governance,
fair and inclusive digital partnerships, and
expanded Global South participation in global decision-making.
“The Accra Reset stands ready to work closely with the G20,” Obasanjo affirmed, describing the platform as “connective tissue interlinking the public, private, and civil factions of Global South societies.”
A Pragmatic Path Forward
Obasanjo said the initiative’s ultimate goal is to help shift international development frameworks:
“from endless aspirational targets to workable business models that drive real and durable change,”
reflecting President Mahama’s
Story: Patrick Asford Boadu
