Wayne Lumbasi
Ghana’s President John Dramani Mahama has been named among the five most influential figures shaping global development, securing fifth place on the 2026 Devex Power 50 list, a widely respected ranking that tracks the individuals redefining how development policy, finance and partnerships are evolving worldwide.
The annual list, compiled by international development media platform Devex, reflects a changing global order in which influence is no longer measured purely by aid budgets or institutional size, but by ideas, agenda-setting power and the ability to mobilise coalitions across borders. Mahama’s inclusion in the top tier signals the growing prominence of African leadership in global development debates at a time when traditional aid models are under strain.
Devex’s 2026 ranking comes against the backdrop of shrinking donor budgets, rising debt pressures across the developing world, and renewed calls for fairer global economic rules. Within this shifting landscape, Mahama has emerged as a key advocate for African-led solutions, arguing for development strategies rooted in local ownership, economic sovereignty and long-term sustainability rather than dependency.
Central to his recognition is the Accra Reset, a policy and thought-leadership initiative that challenges the existing architecture of global development cooperation. The framework calls for a rebalancing of power between developing countries and international institutions, placing emphasis on domestic resource mobilisation, regional integration through the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA), innovative financing models and accountable governance. Rather than rejecting global partnerships, the Accra Reset seeks to redefine them on more equal terms.
Mahama’s influence also stems from his sustained engagement on global platforms, where he has been a consistent voice on issues such as debt restructuring, climate finance, development finance reform and South-South cooperation. His experience as both a former and current head of state, combined with his international advocacy work, has enabled him to bridge domestic policy realities with global decision-making spaces.
The Devex Power 50 places Mahama alongside a mix of heads of state, global health leaders, financiers, philanthropists and technology innovators whose decisions are shaping the future of development. His top-five ranking stands out as a reflection of Africa’s growing role not just as a recipient of development assistance, but as a source of ideas influencing global policy direction.
For Ghana, the recognition reinforces Accra’s positioning as a hub for development dialogue and reform thinking. More broadly, Mahama’s placement sends a clear signal that influence in global development is increasingly driven by vision, credibility and the ability to propose workable alternatives in a rapidly changing world.
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