Former President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo has urged African nations to stand united against external manipulation and avoid becoming a battleground for global power struggles. He emphasized the need for strategic action and regional cooperation to safeguard the continent’s sovereignty and development.
Speaking on Wednesday, September 10, 2025, Akufo-Addo delivered the keynote address at the Strategic Meeting of the Konrad Adenauer Stiftung’s (KAS) African Team and its political partners, held at the Kempinski Gold Coast Hotel in Accra.
The event was the highlight of KAS’s annual African gathering, drawing country representatives from across the continent, as well as members of the Foundation’s Board from Berlin, Germany.
Ahead of the conference, the former President held discussions with Prof. Norbert Lammert, former Speaker of the German Parliament and current Chairman of KAS, along with senior officials from the Foundation’s headquarters.
A Shifting World Order
Addressing the theme of geopolitical shifts and their implications for Africa, Akufo-Addo acknowledged the growing complexity of global politics, where power is now shared among multiple players—including the United States, China, Russia, the European Union, India, and the recently expanded BRICS bloc, which now includes Egypt and Ethiopia.
He cautioned that Africa must not allow itself to be reduced to a pawn in this new global chessboard of rival powers.
“Africa must not become the arena where global powers compete for influence. We must take ownership of our future, strengthen our institutions, and speak with one voice on matters affecting the continent,” he said.
Embrace AfCFTA
Akufo-Addo also called on African countries to fully embrace the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) as a key tool for economic independence and regional integration.
“The AfCFTA is our path to building resilience, boosting intra-African trade, and asserting economic autonomy in a global system that is increasingly fragmented,” he stressed.
The former President’s remarks come amid renewed global interest in Africa’s strategic resources, markets, and geopolitical positioning.
