By Jibril Abdul Mumuni
Accra, May 22, GNA – Participants at the 6th Fireside Dialogue of the Africa Future Leaders Institute of Global Affairs (AFLIGA) have underscored the urgent need for Africa to play a stronger role in global governance.
The Dialogue, organised to commemorate African Union Day, was held on the theme: “Africa’s Role and Agency in Global Affairs: Past, Present and Future , Prospects and Challenges.”
The Dialogue brought together policymakers, diplomats, academics, civil society leaders, and students, providing a platform for intergenerational exchange on Africa’s future.
In a welcome address, Dr Emmanuel Dei‑Tumi, Executive Director of AFLIGA, said the changing global environment required Africa to reposition itself from a passive participant to a strategic and influential actor in global decision-making.
Dr Dei‑Tumi noted that geopolitical shifts, economic uncertainties, and security concerns were redefining international relations and placing pressure on Africa to strengthen its voice.
He stressed that Africa’s future influence would depend on inclusive governance, strong institutions, and deliberate investment in youth and women.
He added that Africa’s youthful population, natural resources, and innovation potential provided a strong foundation for leadership in global affairs.
Delivering remarks on behalf of the Special Guest of Honour, Alhaji Mohammed Inusah, Head of the Office of the Speaker of Parliament, emphasised the importance of transformational leadership in advancing Africa’s development agenda.
The Speaker highlighted that governance challenges, including weak institutions and lack of accountability, continued to undermine Africa’s progress despite its abundant resources.
He called for credible elections, transparency, and citizen participation to strengthen democratic governance across the continent.
The Speaker further cautioned that Africa’s dependence on external powers remained a significant constraint.
He pointed to inequalities in global trade systems and limited representation in key decision-making bodies such as the United Nations Security Council.
“At no time has there been a greater need for critical reflection on Africa’s future and its place in the global system,” the message stressed.
On economic transformation, speakers at the Dialogue advocated for stronger regional integration and effective implementation of the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) to boost intra-African trade and economic resilience.
Ms Nadia Baye, Economist and Educational Policy Analyst, also highlighted the need for improved debt management and domestic resource mobilisation to reduce reliance on external financing.
She noted that Africa continued to lose significant resources through illicit financial flows and inefficient fiscal systems, calling for reforms to strengthen economic sovereignty and sustainable development.
She stressed that although young Africans were increasingly visible through digital platforms, they were often excluded from real decision-making spaces.
She called for meaningful inclusion of youth in governance processes, noting that current systems tended to offer symbolic participation rather than actual influence.
She further highlighted that youth unemployment remained a major challenge, with young people accounting for a significant proportion of the continent’s unemployed population, and warned that failure to address this could have long-term social and economic consequences.
Dr. Baye said that achieving Africa’s development aspirations under Agenda 2063 would require deliberate policy choices, strengthened institutions, and sustained investment in human capital.
GNA
Edited by Samuel Osei-Frempong