Ghana’s Minister for Foreign Affairs, Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa, has called on African leaders to rethink how the continent’s vast natural wealth is managed and shared, particularly to create opportunities for young Africans.
Speaking at the African Union Executive Council’s 26th Extraordinary Session on Conflict Resolution and Prevention in Luanda, Angola, on Friday, August 29, 2026, Mr Ablakwa said Africa must look beyond simply raising money for peace and security and confront the deeper causes of conflict.
He argued that while the continent continues to pursue AU protocols and mobilise resources to recapitalise the African Union Peace Fund, African leaders must also reflect on their leadership and mindset.
“We can have $1 billion, $10 billion, $100 billion in a Peace Fund, but it will mean nothing if we do not change course, if we do not adopt a new leadership paradigm,” he said.
According to the Foreign Affairs Minister, Africa’s leaders must become more tolerant, compassionate and visionary in addressing the root causes of conflict.
He particularly pointed to the struggles of young Africans seeking better opportunities outside the continent, citing a report by the International Organization for Migration which indicated that more than 2,180 young Africans died in the Mediterranean last year while attempting to reach Europe in search of better lives.
Mr Ablakwa said Africa must recommit to job creation, industrialisation and meaningful decentralisation while ensuring that the continent’s vast resources benefit its people.
He questioned why a continent rich in diamonds, gold, bauxite, oil and gas continues to witness its young people risk their lives in search of opportunities elsewhere.
“How can Africa, the richest continent, share these rich resources for the African youth?” he asked, describing the issue as a new paradigm that Africa must embrace.
Meanwhile, President John Dramani Mahama has reiterated Ghana’s support for the full operationalisation and capitalisation of the AU Peace Fund towards its $1 billion target.
Addressing the 21st Extraordinary Session of the Assembly of AU Heads of State and Government, President Mahama said sustainable, predictable and African-owned financing was crucial to tackling the continent’s persistent security challenges.
He stressed that effective early-warning systems require readily available resources to ensure that warnings can be translated into early preventive action.
To strengthen Africa’s financial independence in peace and security operations, the President urged member states to accelerate the implementation of the Peace Fund’s resource mobilisation strategy, including the effective application of the 0.2 per cent import levy.
He also called for greater engagement with African financial institutions and the private sector, while highlighting the Accra Reset framework as a model for self-financing peace, safety and healthcare initiatives.
President Mahama further welcomed UN Security Council Resolution 2719, adopted in 2023, which provides a framework for financing AU-led peace support operations through UN-assessed contributions.
He called for its effective implementation based on the principles of African ownership, accountability and shared global responsibility.
On the Luanda Action Plan and the AU Trigger Model, President Mahama said Africa’s commitments must now be matched with clear timelines and measurable outcomes.
“We have spoken on this topic for too long, and it is time for us to move from words to action,” he said.
The President also addressed the issue of historical justice, updating the AU Assembly on progress in the global campaign for reparatory justice following UN recognition of the enslavement of Africans as the gravest crime against humanity.
He said the Next Steps Conference held in Accra had helped accelerate global momentum, leading to formal apologies, the return of looted artefacts and dedicated funding commitments.
President Mahama concluded by inviting African leaders to an upcoming high-level side event at the 81st session of the UN General Assembly in September, where expert panels established in Accra are expected to present progress reports.
The remarks by Mr Ablakwa and President Mahama reflect a shared call for Africa to take greater responsibility for its own peace, security and development—while ensuring that the continent’s immense wealth creates real opportunities for its people, especially its youth.
