Vice President, Professor Naana Jane Opoku-Agyemang, has called for a new model of international cooperation built on equality, fairness, and mutual respect. Speaking at the 2025 Global Gateway Forum in Brussels, she emphasized that while Ghana remains open to global partnerships, it will not accept unfair or one-sided arrangements.
“Ghana is open for cooperation,” she stated, “but we will not take unfair partnerships. True collaboration must give all countries an equal voice in shaping our shared future.”
The Vice President’s remarks echoed the central theme of this year’s forum “Strong Partnerships for a Sustainable Future” which brings together leaders from the European Union and across the world to discuss investment priorities, address global development challenges, and strengthen cooperation.
In her address during a panel discussion, Professor Opoku-Agyemang urged African nations to take advantage of the ongoing global power shifts to assert greater economic independence and innovation.
“It’s about time African people seize this moment in history to become self-reliant and agents of change,” she said. “Our continent must define its own path toward sustainable growth and equitable development.”
Earlier in her keynote address, the President of the European Commission, Ursula von der Leyen, announced that the EU’s Global Gateway initiative has already mobilized over €306 billion in investments surpassing its initial target of €300 billion set for 2027. She highlighted the importance of partnerships built on respect, shared interests, and long-term commitment, citing successful collaborations with regions in Africa, Latin America, and the Caribbean.
The Global Gateway Forum serves as a platform for leaders, policymakers, and business executives to forge new alliances, discuss global investment opportunities, and advance sustainable development through inclusive cooperation.