Ghana’s Vice President, Prof. Jane Naana Opoku-Agyemang, has called on countries of the Global South to move beyond the achievements of political independence and focus on building strong institutions, productive economies and effective governance systems that respond to the needs and aspirations of their people.
Addressing the 2026 Global South Academic Forum in Shanghai, China, under the theme “Global South Political Parties: Governance and Modernisation,” the Vice President emphasised that winning political power and governing effectively are distinct responsibilities that require continuous institutional reform, accountability and adaptation.
Drawing on the historical struggles for self-determination and the development experiences of countries such as China, she advocated a model of South-South cooperation rooted in mutual learning rather than one-size-fits-all development prescriptions.
Prof. Opoku-Agyemang further called for deeper collaboration in education, research, technology and innovation, alongside reforms to international institutions and financial arrangements to ensure that the Global South has a stronger voice in decisions affecting its future.
Her central message was clear, the next chapter of the Global South’s development must be defined not only by political sovereignty, but by the capacity to govern effectively, innovate and shape a fairer global order.
