Foreign Secretary speech at Accra Reset Event
UK Foreign Secretary outlines Accra Reset priorities at Accra Reset Event, emphasizing partnership, systemic reform, and local-led solutions over traditional donor models.
The UK Foreign Secretary praised Ghana’s Accra Reset initiative and recognised former Prime Minister Gordon Brown’s contributions, framing the event around international solidarity and equal partnerships. She highlighted the UK’s shift from donor funding to investment, focusing on systemic strengthening rather than piecemeal service delivery, and aligning with the Reset’s agenda linking health reform, negotiation capacity, and private enterprise.
She identified three priorities for progress: scaling and fairer financing, ensuring institutions reflect today’s global realities, and measuring reform by tangible results. The UK will advocate for multilateral development bank reforms, smarter use of guarantees and private capital, and action on unsustainable debt and illicit finance during World Bank annual meetings.
The Foreign Secretary stressed the need for institutions like the World Bank, IMF, and UN to include greater representation from countries most affected by global decisions. She underscored that reform must prioritise effective institutions and coordinated action, with the UK aiming to collaborate with Ghana and others during its G20 presidency.
Concluding with a call for practical change, she reaffirmed the UK’s commitment to listen, build genuine partnerships, and deploy diplomatic, financial, and technical resources behind locally led reforms. The speech framed the UK’s role as supportive rather than prescriptive, emphasising solidarity and equal partnerships to deliver meaningful global improvements.