Global South urged to unite despite differences – Prof Opoku-Agyemang
Vice-President Professor Jane Naana Opoku-Agyemang has urged countries in the Global South to strengthen cooperation despite differences in their political systems, histories and development experiences.
Speaking at the 2026 Global South Academic Forum in Shanghai, China, she said countries must learn to disagree respectfully while pursuing common development goals, particularly amid growing global polarisation.
Professor Opoku-Agyemang stressed that unity should not require countries to hold identical positions on every issue.
“A unified voice should not be a uniform voice,” she said.
She called on leaders and institutions across Africa, Asia and Latin America to build on the legacy of earlier generations who fought for sovereignty and freedom, often at considerable personal cost.
The Vice-President said cooperation must extend beyond shared historical experiences to practical efforts that address common development challenges.
She urged countries to learn from one another, including from policies and initiatives that had failed to achieve their intended outcomes.
“The value of our cooperation today lies in our willingness to learn from one another, including what has not worked,” she said.
Call for stronger research partnerships
Professor Opoku-Agyemang also called for stronger intellectual partnerships among countries in the Global South, urging scholars, media organisations, academic journals and research institutions to work more closely together.
She said such collaboration could improve the visibility of research produced across the Global South and strengthen the exchange of knowledge and ideas.
The Vice-President identified artificial intelligence and other digital technologies as tools that could help overcome language and geographical barriers, making it easier for countries to share research and expertise.
She said greater collaboration among academic and research institutions would help countries draw on one another's experiences to develop solutions suited to their needs.
Stronger institutions key to development
Professor Opoku-Agyemang further called on political parties to strengthen their institutions and invest in policy research to improve governance and ensure continuity when leadership changes.
She said institutional capacity was essential to translating political commitments into effective policies and sustaining development beyond individual leaders or election cycles.
The Vice-President said the next phase of cooperation among countries in the Global South should focus on building stronger institutions, developing more productive economies and creating a more inclusive international order.
She also called for a greater role for countries in the Global South in shaping international discussions and decisions that affect their development.
“The next chapter of the Global South should be defined by what we build together,” she said.
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