Mahama Ranks 5th on Devex Power 50 List for Global Development Influence

Ghanaian President John Dramani Mahama has received international recognition after being ranked fifth on the 2026 Devex Power 50 list, which honours the most influential figures shaping global development and social change.

The ranking places President Mahama among the world’s leading changemakers, citing his leadership of the “Accra Reset” — an ambitious, Africa-led framework calling for a fundamental overhaul of how development is financed and governed.

According to Devex, Mahama’s growing influence is rooted in his advocacy for Africa to move beyond aid dependency and to renegotiate its position within the global economic system.

The Accra Reset promotes self-reliance through stronger domestic resource mobilisation, expanded regional trade, debt relief, fairer global trade rules, and increased access to climate finance, as alternatives to declining traditional aid flows.

President Mahama returned to office in January 2025 for a second term, having previously served as president from 2012 to 2016. His public service career also includes roles as Vice President, Member of Parliament, and minister. He was additionally the first co-chair of the United Nations Advocacy Group on the Sustainable Development Goals.

Devex notes that Mahama has emerged as a prominent voice in global development reform debates, particularly at a time when international aid budgets are facing increasing pressure.

In August 2025, he convened African leaders, policymakers, and global health experts in Accra, where the initial concept of African health sovereignty was unveiled. This vision later evolved into a broader development agenda.

The framework was formally expanded during the United Nations General Assembly in September 2025 and further elevated at the 2026 World Economic Forum in Davos, positioning the Accra Reset as both an African-led initiative and a global call for new approaches to governance, business, and development financing.

Devex describes President Mahama as the hands-on political champion of the initiative, working alongside former Nigerian President Olusegun Obasanjo, who serves as an adviser.

Together, they have presented the Accra Reset as a response to shifting global realities, including reductions in U.S. foreign aid, and as an effort to move beyond “development-as-usual.”

The recognition highlights President Mahama’s expanding influence beyond Ghana, as his ideas continue to shape global discussions on the future of development and Africa’s role in the world economy.