Lusaka: President John Dramani Mahama addressed Zambia's National Assembly as part of his three-day state visit to the country. In his speech, he presented a vision for African economic transformation, governance reforms, and enhanced Ghana-Zambia relations.
According to Ghana Web, President Mahama was joined by Ghana's First Lady, Lordina Mahama, and he expressed admiration for her when he introduced dignitaries before his address. Referring to her as his 'domestic commander-in-chief,' he acknowledged her presence with affection, noting her seated position to his left in the assembly.
President Mahama's address to the National Assembly was marked by references to the historical ties between Ghana and Zambia, highlighting the shared liberation struggles of Dr. Kwame Nkrumah and Dr. Kenneth Kaunda. He emphasized the need for Africa to address challenges such as youth unemployment and fragile health systems, describing these issues as a 'pandemic of unfulfilled potential.'
In line with his 'Accra Reset Initiative,' Mahama called for overcoming Africa's 'triple dependency' on external security, social system donors, and foreign mineral buyers. He discussed reforms under his Reset Agenda, which include reducing government size, digitalizing public services, restructuring debt, and stabilizing the economy. He also reported notable economic improvements, including a reduction in inflation from 23.4% in late 2024 to 3.8% in January 2026, and a 32% appreciation of the cedi in 2025.
Mahama underscored the importance of African sovereignty over natural resources, highlighting Ghana's establishment of a Gold Board to regulate exports and enhance local value addition. He advocated for the repatriation of a portion of Africa's foreign reserves to support continental development.