Vice President Calls for Stronger Leadership and Global Governance Reforms

Ghana's vice president called for stronger leadership and urgent reforms to global governance systems during a speech at the University of Oxford on Saturday. The vice president warned that Africa's progress will remain constrained if developing countries continue to operate under unfair economic conditions and weak representation in global decision-making.

She made the remarks at the Oxford Africa Conference 2026.

The vice president said African countries must prioritize building credible institutions, strengthen accountability systems, and develop resilient economies capable of withstanding global shocks. She cautioned against complacency over Ghana's recent economic gains.

The vice president noted that although the country was beginning to show signs of recovery, the task of building an inclusive and future-ready economy was far from complete. She stated that the foundations will be strengthened, but the work of building an inclusive and future-ready economy is only beginning.

The vice president stressed that Africa's future would depend largely on leadership and institutions capable of responding effectively to rapid global changes while ensuring that growth benefits ordinary citizens. " She said Africa must move beyond being described as a continent of "deferred potential" and instead focus on organizing itself to compete, innovate and build sustainable systems.

The vice president noted that governance across many developing countries continued to face major structural challenges, including rising debt levels, high borrowing costs and unequal access to international finance. She said global institutions risk losing legitimacy if they fail to respond to present-day realities and growing inequalities between developed and developing nations.

The Oxford Africa Conference brought together policymakers, academics, entrepreneurs and students to discuss governance, economic transformation and Africa's future in a changing global environment.