President John Dramani Mahama has emphasised the importance of prudent financial management among African leaders, calling for a reduction in wasteful spending to ensure resources are directed toward critical development areas.

In a video shared on TV3’s X page on Friday, February 14, 2025, Mahama stressed that African nations must demonstrate responsible leadership by making necessary budgetary adjustments.

He noted that excessive spending often leads to dependency on external aid, which could be minimized through better fiscal discipline.

"African nations must show leadership. We have a responsibility, as leaders, to be less wasteful in how we spend our money and make necessary adjustments. Looking at the budget, there are areas where resources have been wasted in the past, and we must redirect those funds to more pressing priorities," Mahama stated.

He pointed out Ghana’s diversified international partnerships, explaining the relations with the United States, China, and India.

"Our cooperation with different global partners is specialized. With the US, it has been in governance, education, and healthcare. With China, it's infrastructure and investments — roads and railways. India has supported us in agriculture, while Brazil has supplied agricultural equipment and machinery. These partnerships have been beneficial in various ways," he explained.

Mahama acknowledged that while some European nations might step in to fill funding gaps, the situation underscores the need for Africa to build self-reliance.

"If we’re able to close that gap, we will still have cooperation with different countries. Maybe some European nations will step in, but this should teach us to be more self-reliant," he said.

He also suggested that if the US were to cut funding to UN agencies engaged in critical work on the continent, countries like China and India might step in at the multilateral level.

"I haven’t seen China invest in those areas in many parts of Africa. I don’t know if it’s a policy they would decide to adopt, but if the US cuts assistance to UN organizations, powers like China and India might step in at the multilateral level. However, I don’t see them directly investing in those areas," he remarked.

Mahama’s comments come amid shifts in global aid policies.

In January 2025, US President, Donald Trump, issued Executive Order 14169, titled 'Reevaluating and Realigning United States Foreign Aid,' which suspended most US foreign development assistance programs for 90 days to allow for a review.

This led to the suspension of nearly all foreign aid programs, except for emergency food assistance and military aid to Egypt and Israel.

Later exemptions were made for life-saving humanitarian programs, but activities related to family planning, gender ideologies, and administrative costs remained excluded.

The president is in Germany to attend the Munich Security Conference. Mahama, who also serves as the Chairperson of the Tana Forum, will lead a Tana/MSC side event on 'Deepening Global Fragmentation: Implications for Africa’s Peace and Security'.

Watch the video below:

African governments and leaders need to demonstrate that they can spend their money more wisely - John Mahama speaks on Trump halting US foreign aid to African countries#3NewsGH pic.twitter.com/FXwELdBCLw

— #3NewsGH (@3NewsGH) February 14, 2025