Chief of Staff, Julius Debrah, has called on African leaders to redefine sovereignty beyond political rhetoric, stressing that citizens measure the success of governments by improvements in their daily lives rather than public declarations.
Speaking at the African Parliaments’ Family, Sovereignty and Values Conference in Accra, Mr. Debrah said true sovereignty must be demonstrated through a nation’s ability to provide essential services, create opportunities and improve the welfare of its people.
“A sovereign nation must be capable of feeding its people, educating its children, protecting its vulnerable, creating opportunities for its youth, and financing its own development priorities,” he stated.
According to the Chief of Staff, citizens across Africa are more concerned about the practical outcomes of governance than political speeches or symbolic assertions of independence.
“Across Africa, our citizens do not judge sovereignty by the speeches we make. They judge it by whether the lights stay on, whether jobs are available, whether schools educate, whether hospitals heal, and whether the government keeps their promises,” he said.
Mr. Debrah noted that the true test of sovereignty lies in a government’s ability to address the real challenges facing its people.
“The ultimate expression of sovereignty is the capacity of a nation to solve the problems of its people,” he added.
He further argued that discussions on cultural sovereignty must be matched by efforts to achieve economic sovereignty, warning that values and identity cannot be sustained without strong economic foundations.
“That is why discussions about cultural sovereignty must be accompanied by discussions about economic sovereignty,” he said.
Mr. Debrah called for increased domestic production, stronger support for African-owned businesses, expanded regional trade and development strategies tailored to the continent’s unique realities.
“We must build economies capable of supporting the social systems we seek to protect,” he stressed.
He emphasized that sustainable sovereignty depends on strengthening the internal economic capacity of African countries and ensuring that development benefits ordinary citizens.
The conference brought together parliamentary leaders and policymakers from across the continent to discuss issues relating to sovereignty, family values and Africa’s socio-political future.
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