President Akufo-Addo’s advice to Africa to shun dependency on donor largesse, forge partnerships that coincide with the African agenda and build a liberating ‘we can do it mindset’ is timely. Sub-Saharan African countries are the recipients of 25% of global official development assistance, according to the OECD. Most of them make policies on the basis of support that they receive from donor countries, policies that most often create a disconnect between the genuine needs of respective African countries and donor dictates.

With many suitors such as China, Brazil, India, Russia, Japan and  Israel courting the continent, Africa must identify strategic continental interests and push for these when forging partnerships. Failure to do this will lead to fragmented and conflicting development activities and policies that will in the long run be counterproductive.