Chief of Staff Julius Debrah has called on African countries to deepen their economic independence, insisting that cultural sovereignty can only be fully sustained when underpinned by strong economic sovereignty.
He explained that nations must have the capacity to finance their own development agenda, ensure food security, and deliver quality education in order to safeguard themselves from undue external influence.
Speaking on behalf of President John Dramani Mahama at the 4th Inter-Parliamentary Conference on Family, Sovereignty and Values, he said building resilient economies remains central to preserving national values and strengthening social systems.
According to him conversations on cultural sovereignty must be matched with deliberate efforts to achieve economic sovereignty.
“A sovereign nation must be capable of feeding its people, educating its children, protecting its vulnerable, creating opportunities for its youth, and financing its own development priorities
“Across Africa, our citizens do not judge sovereignty by the speeches we make; they judge it by whether the lights stay on, whether jobs are available, whether schools educate, whether hospitals heal, and whether governments keep their promises. The ultimate expression of sovereignty is the capacity of a nation to solve the problems of its people,” he said.
He also called for increased domestic production, stronger support for African-owned businesses, expanded regional trade, and development strategies anchored in Africa’s own priorities and realities.
“We must build economies capable of supporting the social systems we seek to protect. We must strengthen domestic production, support African enterprises, expand regional trade, and create pathways to prosperity that are anchored in our own priorities and realities,” he added.
