Former President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo has called on African nations to strengthen unity and adopt strategic approaches in dealing with global powers, warning against the continent being reduced to a battleground for external rivalries.
Delivering the keynote address at the Strategic Meeting of the Konrad Adenauer Stiftung’s (KAS) African Team and political partners on Wednesday, September 10, 2025, at the Kempinski Gold Coast Hotel in Accra, Akufo-Addo stressed that Africa must protect its sovereignty and developmental aspirations in the face of a rapidly changing global order.
The gathering marked the climax of the annual meeting of all KAS country representatives in Africa and board members from the foundation’s headquarters in Berlin, Germany. Ahead of the main event, the former president also held discussions at his Accra office with Prof. Norbert Lammert, former Speaker of the German Parliament and Chairman of the Konrad Adenauer Foundation, together with senior officials from KAS headquarters.
Addressing the theme of geopolitical shifts and their implications for Africa and international cooperation, Akufo-Addo highlighted the risks and opportunities posed by today’s multipolar world, where influence is increasingly diffused among the United States, China, Russia, the European Union, India, and the expanding BRICS alliance, which recently welcomed Egypt and Ethiopia as new members.
“With such competition among global powers raging, African nations must elude attempts to turn the continent into an arena of rivalries, where our sovereignty and development aspirations are compromised and subordinated to external interests,” he cautioned.
The former president underscored the urgency for Africa to diversify partnerships, negotiate better terms with global actors, and accelerate economic integration through the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA). He argued that such strategic cooperation would allow the continent to strengthen its bargaining power, achieve transformation, and reduce vulnerability to external pressures.
Akufo-Addo also emphasised that Africa’s ability to speak with a unified voice on international platforms would be key to ensuring that the continent secures fair opportunities in trade, technology, and global governance.
The Konrad Adenauer Stiftung, a German political foundation affiliated with the Christian Democratic Union (CDU), has long supported democratic governance, dialogue, and sustainable development initiatives across Africa.
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