Ghanaian President John Dramani Mahama is urging Africa and the Caribbean to speak with one voice on the global stage, saying stronger cooperation is essential to reform the United Nations (UN) and international financial institutions to secure fairer treatment for developing countries.

Addressing a joint sitting of Jamaica’s Parliament, Tuesday during his State visit, Mahama argued that the historic relationship between Africa and the Caribbean must now evolve into a strategic partnership capable of influencing international decision-making, reducing global inequality and creating greater economic opportunities for developing nations.

Rather than allowing the relationship to remain rooted solely in a shared history of slavery and colonialism, the Ghanaian leader said the two regions should work together to influence policies on climate change, global finance, trade, food security and public health, areas in which he believes developing countries have long struggled to make their voices heard.

“We must strengthen cooperation between the African Union and Caricom. We must deepen our collaboration within the United Nations and other multilateral institutions, and we must coordinate our positions on issues that will define the future of humanity. Whether the challenge is climate change, reform of the international financial architecture, food security, public health, or digital transformation, our voices will carry greater weight if we speak together,” he declared.

Caricom and the African Union have steadily expanded cooperation in recent years, driven by shared positions on reparatory justice, climate finance, sustainable development and reform of the international financial system.

In 2021, the two regional organisations signed a memorandum of understanding aimed at strengthening political and economic cooperation, while regular Africa-Caricom summits have sought to deepen collaboration on trade, investment, education and technology.

Mahama said that cooperation must now extend beyond diplomacy and deliver meaningful change for citizens across both regions.

“The partnership between Africa and the Caribbean should therefore no longer be defined only by our shared past, but also by our shared future. It should be recognised for the future we are determined to build together. It is this conviction that inspired me to call the Accra Reset Conference recently,” he said.

He used his address to criticise what he described as persistent inequalities within the international system, arguing that many of the institutions governing global finance and politics were created in a different era and no longer adequately reflect the realities of today’s developing world.

The Accra Reset, launched by Ghana earlier this year, calls for reforms to international governance and development financing, with greater emphasis on productive investment, industrialisation and fairer representation for developing countries.

“The Accra Reset reflects our belief that institutions governing the world must evolve to reflect the realities and aspirations of the 21st century. Too many developing countries continue to confront structural barriers to financing, unequal trading arrangements, and inadequate representation in global decision-making bodies. These inequities cannot define our future,” Mahama argued.

He said Africa and the Caribbean should work together to change those conditions rather than continue operating within a system that limits their economic potential.

“The Accra Reset calls for a new development paradigm founded on mutual respect, productive investment, and genuine partnership. It seeks to accelerate industrialisation, promote value addition, encourage innovation, exercise national sovereignty over our resources, and equip our young people with the knowledge and skills to compete successfully in the global economy. But above all, it calls for a more balanced international order in which developing countries participate as equal partners in shaping global solutions,” he added.

Among the reforms he proposed was a renewed push to restructure the United Nations Security Council, which has remained largely unchanged since its creation after the Second World War. Africa, despite representing 54 sovereign states, does not hold a permanent seat on the council, a long-standing concern raised by African leaders.

Mahama also called for changes to international financial institutions, arguing that developing countries should have greater influence over decisions that affect access to financing and economic development.

Although much of Mahama’s address reflected on the historical ties between Africa and Jamaica, he repeatedly stressed that history alone would not improve the lives of future generations.

Instead, he said both regions should use their shared experiences to build stronger economic partnerships, coordinate their positions on major international issues and pursue reforms that give developing countries a more equal role in shaping global policies.

“When we work together, our partnership becomes more than just a historical connection. It becomes a powerful force for global progress, for shared prosperity, and for lasting justice,” he added.