Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo speaking at the conference in Nairobi on Monday, October 27, 2025
Source: Africa Publicity
Former President of Ghana, Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo, has called for a new continental framework to address the challenges of water, peace and security in Africa.
Speaking at the inaugural session of the 2025 International Conference on Water, Peace and Security in Nairobi on Monday, October 27, 2025, he proposed the establishment of an African Water Peace Initiative to drive cooperation and coherence in managing the continent’s shared water resources.
He reflected on the many challenges with implementing existing frameworks on water, peace and security in Africa as well as the promise of shared water resources through cooperation.
He envisioned a new framework for Africa, an African Water Peace Initiative, “to bring coherence and political momentum to our shared efforts.”
Mr. Akufo-Addo highlighted the vast potential of Africa’s natural resources, citing the Inga Dam site in the Democratic Republic of Congo as a transformative project for the continent. “The Inga Dam site in the Democratic Republic of Congo, with a potential capacity of about 44,000 Megawatts, can become the world’s largest hydropower facility and have the capacity to power the entire continent’s development if the protracted discussions on how to finance its construction can finally be brought to a positive conclusion.”
Akufo-Addo also urged renewed dialogue and collaboration over transboundary water disputes, noting the benefits of cooperation.
“Additionally, proper cooperation towards an amicable resolution on the Nile River dispute between Egypt and Ethiopia can reap immense benefits for the countries involved.”
Emphasizing the link between water and human development, he stated: “Water, peace and security are not just mere concepts. They are actionable and can bring enormous benefits to Africans. It is time to invest deliberately in African capacity, research and innovation to manage sustainably our resources. And it is time to ensure that access to clean water and sanitation, a basic human right, is realised for every African.”
The former president concluded with a call for fairness and equity in resource governance, asserting that sustainable peace depends on justice.
“But true water security requires justice, justice in access, in allocation, and in governance. For peace cannot flow where inequality runs deep.”
