International Partners Must Shift from Short-Term Programmes to Long-Term Capability Building – President Mahama

President John Dramani Mahama has called on international partners and philanthropic organisations to shift from short-term programmes to long-term capability building in their support for developing countries.

The President said international cooperation must do more to build national capability and work through local systems when they meet required standards.

He also urged partners to reduce unnecessary duplication while protecting accountability.

President Mahama made the call on Monday when he spoke at a presidential roundtable organised by the Open Society Foundation in New York on the sidelines of the 81st United Nations General Assembly.

The roundtable brought together presidents and chief executives of major global foundations, including representatives from Gates, Ford, OSF, Hewlett Packard, Hilton, Rockefeller, Humanity United, Anglo American, Chandler and USB Optimus, among others.

“Can international cooperation do more to build national capability and work through local systems when they meet required standards? Can we reduce unnecessary duplication while protecting accountability?” the President asked.

He called on foundations to use their unique flexibility to fund public goods and institutional capacity where commercial finance cannot.

“Foundations have room to operate differently because they can support institutional capability, early programme development, public goods and social priorities,” he said.

“Where an approach proves successful, the next step should be its adoption into public systems, local delivery institutions, and long-term financing models.”

The President acknowledged that Ghana still has significant progress to make to exercise full ownership over its development trajectory. 

He said this would require stronger coordination across government, better preparation of programmes and projects, greater domestic resource mobilisation, sound financial management and institutions that can demonstrate clear results.

He also said Ghana must leverage capabilities outside government, including civil society, business, academia and local communities.

“We must carry our share of the responsibility if we want greater room to lead,” he stated.

The presidential roundtable forms part of President Mahama’s engagements at the 81st UN General Assembly, where he will also host two high-level side events on the Accra Reset and reparatory justice, deliver Ghana’s official statement at the main General Debate on Thursday, September 24, 2026, and meet with the Ghanaian community in New York.

Richard Aniagyei, ISD