Ghana’s Minister for Foreign Affairs, Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa, has called on African leaders to move beyond protocol and bureaucratic inertia, urging a fundamental shift in mindset to address the root causes of conflict and forced migration on the continent. Speaking at the 26th Extraordinary Session of the African Union Executive Council in Luanda, Angola, Minister Ablakwa argued that financial investments alone cannot cure the scourge of violence if governments fail to create economic opportunities for the continent’s teeming youth .
Addressing fellow ministers on August 29, 2026, Ablakwa emphasized the necessity of an “earnest introspection” regarding the drivers of instability. He challenged the normalization of conflict, terrorism, and humanitarian crises, stating, “The scenes of our continent cannot continue on this tragedy… We need to take a new path” . He contended that while the African Union has pursued various paradigms and protocols to recapitalize the AU Peace Fund, a more critical recapitalization is required in the “heart and mindset” of African leadership .
“The time has come for us to carry out an earnest introspection… Perhaps what we should begin to recapitalize, in all humility, is our heart and our mindset,” Ablakwa stated .
Root Causes and Youth Desperation
Highlighting the desperation driving migration, the Minister cited recent statistics, noting that over 72,000 young people attempted to cross into Ceuta, Spain, last month alone, resulting in 111 deaths . He also referenced a report from the International Organization for Migration (IOM) that over 2,180 young Africans died in the Mediterranean last year . He stressed that such exodus is symptomatic of deeper issues, noting that 600 million Africans, representing 43% of the population, lack access to electricity .
Ablakwa insisted that Africa must recommit to job creation, industrialization, and real decentralization as a means to halt this trend. He called for equitable sharing of the continent’s vast natural resources—including diamonds, gold, bauxite, and oil and gas—benefiting the African youth .
“We can have one billion dollars, 10 billion dollars or 100 billion dollars in a peace fund, but if we do not change course and adopt a new leadership paradigm, we will not achieve the peace we seek,” he emphasized . “How can we share these resources for the benefit of African young people? This is the new paradigm that we need for our continent” .
Summit Context and Continental Response
The Luanda summit, which convened under the auspices of the African Union Commission, focused on strengthening mechanisms for conflict prevention and resolution . The session concluded with plans to adopt an Action Plan and Implementation Matrix to enhance responsiveness to security challenges across the continent .
Supporting the call for action, Ghana’s President John Dramani Mahama also declared strong support for the full capitalization of the AU Peace Fund toward its $1 billion target . President Mahama emphasized that sustainable, African-owned financing is crucial for effective early warning and response mechanisms, urging member states to move “from words to action” .
The summit agenda included a review of the African Peace and Security Architecture (APSA) and the African Governance Architecture (AGA), focusing on early warning systems and crisis response .
