National Chairman of the National Democratic Congress (NDC), Johnson Asiedu Nketia, has urged African countries to position themselves as equal partners in the evolving global economic order rather than remaining suppliers of raw materials to developed nations.
Speaking at the third meeting of the Standing Committee of the International Movement for the Freedom of Nations in St. Petersburg on June 25, 2026, Mr. Asiedu Nketia said the continent must seize opportunities presented by growing global demand for its natural resources while ensuring it derives greater economic value from them.
“The world is entering a period of renewed competition for resources, influence and strategic advantage,” he said.
“There is nothing inherently wrong with this. Every nation pursues its interests. The question is whether Africa will participate in this new phase of global competition as an equal partner or merely as a source of inputs for the ambitions of others.”
He noted that the increasing global demand for Africa’s critical minerals, energy resources, digital infrastructure and emerging markets presents both opportunities and challenges for the continent.
According to him, Africa must avoid repeating historical patterns where it exports strategic resources while other countries reap the bulk of the economic benefits.
“The challenge before Africa is to ensure that the 21st century does not become another chapter in which the continent supplies strategic resources while others capture the greater share of the value they create,” he stated.
Mr. Asiedu Nketia observed that the global economy is being reshaped by advances in artificial intelligence, biotechnology, digital infrastructure, advanced manufacturing and the transition to cleaner energy, all of which depend on resources abundant in Africa.
However, he stressed that the continent’s future would depend largely on its own policy choices.
“The answer will depend less on what others do and more on the choices we make ourselves: the quality of our institutions, the sophistication of our economies, the strength of our educational systems and our willingness to think strategically about the long term,” he said.
The NDC Chairman further argued that Africa’s fight against neocolonialism should be driven by strong institutions, industrialisation and technological advancement rather than political rhetoric.
“The struggle against neocolonialism cannot ultimately be won through rhetoric alone. It will be won through competent governance, industrial capacity, technological capability, effective regional integration and the ability of states to negotiate from positions of confidence rather than dependency,” he stated.
He called on African governments to prioritise value addition, strengthen educational systems, build technological capacity and deepen regional integration to achieve sustainable economic growth and genuine economic sovereignty.
Mr. Asiedu Nketia also reaffirmed Ghana’s commitment to international cooperation based on mutual respect and equality.
“The objective is not to divide the world into rival camps. The objective is to contribute to an international order in which partnership genuinely means partnership, where sovereignty is respected regardless of a nation’s size and where development is not constrained by permanent hierarchies inherited from history,” he said.
He added that a fairer international system would promote stability, strengthen global cooperation and support equitable development among nations.
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