Ablakwa's proposed Accra Declaration sets six commitments to help African states pay for their Union, from the import levy to a US$1bn Peace Fund.

Published 14 Nov 2026, 20:41 GMT

3 min read

Foreign Affairs Minister Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa receives the Open Letters of Slovakia’s Ambassador-designate, Martin Podstavek — Ablakwa receives Slovakia’s Ambassador-designate Martin Podstavek in Accra

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Ghana will ratify the treaties for three AU financial institutions by 2027, including an African Central Bank, Foreign Affairs Minister Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa told African Union ministers in Accra on Friday.

Ablakwa also put forward an Accra Declaration on Financing the Union, with six commitments for member states. The AU's account of the opening lists it as a proposal for the Council to adopt.

The six commitments are:

the integrated pathway, known as Option C, as the model for financing and reform
the 0.2 per cent import levy in each country, or an equivalent domestic mechanism
one programme-based budget with a medium-term expenditure framework
a Peace Fund raised from the current US$400 million target to US$1 billion, with a way to top it up
the Alliance of African Multilateral Financial Institutions as a formal, lasting AU partner
a review of how dues are set, including the cap and their shrinking real value

Ablakwa said member states are projected to cover nearly 99 per cent of the Union's operational budget in 2027, but only about 4 per cent of its programme budget and 12 per cent of peace and security spending.

In Johannesburg in 2015, governments promised to fund 100 per cent of operations, 75 per cent of programmes and 25 per cent of peace and security. Yet only 18 of the 55 member states have applied the levy on eligible imports agreed a year later in Kigali, Ablakwa said.

AU Commission Chairperson Mahmoud Ali Youssouf, who called on President Mahama during the visit, proposed reviewing the ceiling on statutory contributions and widening use of the levy.

"African sovereignty must not merely be proclaimed; it must be built, organised and financed," Youssouf said.

Ablakwa said Ghana would use its 2027 term to stage an Extraordinary Summit on African Financial Institutions, with Accra as host. He asked each member state to make at least one concrete move towards ratification before ministers next meet.

Closing the session, he said several countries, Ghana among them, were willing to pay more.

Araba IncoomAraba Incoom writes on multiple topics with a vast knowledge across different sector. You can almost call me an AI, after all, my initials are Araba Incoom.

Ghana will ratify African Central Bank treaty by 2027, Ablakwa tells AU ministers in Accra

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