South-South Cooperation for development: Case of Ghana and Africa
For generations, African development has largely been formed by North–South relations, with donor aid, conditional loans and trade deficits.
But quietly, there has been a shift. More and more, countries of the Global South, from Asia to Latin America, are turning to each other for trade, technology and policy savvy.
This transfer, referred to as South-South Cooperation (SSC), offers a great opportunity for Ghana and other African countries to leapfrog into development.
The key question, however, is: ‘How do we maximise these benefits, beyond signing memoranda of understanding and attending international summits?
President Mahama’s recent state visit to Singapore embodies the spirit of the South-South Cooperation.
The substantive themes accompanying this state visit have to do with shared development goals, capacity building, financial and technological collaboration and mutual respect, which match the principles of SSC closely.
The SSC presents a golden opportunity for Ghana and other African nations to fast-track their development in the following ways:
Unlocking trade potentials
The launch of the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA), headquartered in Accra, gives Ghana a unique opportunity.
Ghana can position itself as a hub for intra-African trade, strengthening links not only with neighbouring West African countries but also with Southern partners such as India, Brazil, Cuba, etc.
This requires moving beyond raw materials export, such as cocoa, gold and bauxite, into value-added industries.
If Ghana and other African countries can process more of their cocoa into chocolate or refine more gold locally, they can negotiate better trade deals with fellow economies while creating jobs at home.
Technology and knowledge transfer
The SSC is not just about goods and money, but it is also about ideas.
Countries such as Brazil, India and Vietnam have pioneered affordable innovations in agriculture, health and ICT that mirror Africa’s realities more closely than the Western models.
Ghanaian universities, research institutions and start-ups should plug into joint innovation centres, student exchange programmes and knowledge sharing platforms.
In areas such as Fintech and renewable energy, partnerships with other Southern countries could help African countries leapfrog their development hurdles.
Infrastructure and connectivity
One of the barriers to maximising the benefits of SSC is weak infrastructure. Deplorable roads, inadequate railways, ports and inadequate energy systems remain fragmented across Africa, making trade expensive and inefficient.
By pursuing regional infrastructure projects supported by the African Development Bank facilities and the BRICS New Development Bank, Ghana and African countries can ensure that cooperation leads to real, tangible improvements in connectivity. Transparent and mutually beneficial resource for infrastructure agreements will also be critical.
Agriculture and food security
South-South alliances can help Ghana and Africa tackle persistent food insecurity. Brazil’s expertise in biofuels and mechanised farming, India’s irrigation systems and Vietnam’s rice production techniques offer models worth adapting.
Ghanaian farmers can benefit from shared technology, joint ventures and access to regional agricultural value chains that improve incomes and ensure food security.
Health, education and human capital
The COVID-19 pandemic showed how vulnerable Africa is when supply chains break down. Strengthening ties with Cuba, India and China in joint pharmaceutical production can reduce dependency on imported medicines.
On the education front, SSC can support vocational training, science and technology institutes and public health collaboration, ensuring a skilled workforce that meets Africa’s growth demands.
Climate action and energy transition
With Africa among the most vulnerable regions to climate change, SSC could also focus on renewable energy and resilience. Partnerships with Southern leaders in solar, wind and bioenergy could help Ghana transition faster to a green economy.
At the same time, Africa’s collective voice in the climate negotiations will carry more weight if countries present a united southern front.
Maximising the benefits
For Ghana and other African states to reap the full rewards of SSC, three things are very crucial. First, strong policy alignment-projects must fit into national development plans rather than becoming isolated initiatives.
Secondly, collective bargaining is key to unlocking benefits. Negotiating as regional blocs through ECOWAS, AU and AfCFTA will give Africa greater leverage.
Third is accountability - African governments must strengthen institutional and capacity building to manage SSC projects transparently and involve the private sector to ensure sustainability.
Conclusion
SSC is not a silver bullet, but it offers Ghana and Africa an alternative growth path that is less dependent on aid and more rooted in mutual benefits.
With the right strategies, SSC can become a powerful engine for trade, technology transfer, infrastructure and human capital development that will bring Africa closer to its aspirations under Agenda 2063 and the Sustainable Development Goals.
