Veep Opoku-Agyemang pushes for a global financial system that does not deepen vulnerability

Vice President Professor Naana Jane Opoku-Agyemang has called for reforms to the global financial system to ensure that it supports the development of poorer countries without deepening their economic vulnerabilities.

She said international financial arrangements must respond to the needs of developing countries and create conditions that allow them to pursue their development priorities.

The Vice President made the remarks on Saturday, October 17, 2026, when she delivered the opening address at the Global South Academic Forum in Shanghai, China.

Speaking on the theme “Global South Political Parties, Governance and Modernization,” Professor Opoku-Agyemang argued that countries across Africa, Asia, Latin America and the Caribbean must have a greater role in shaping decisions that affect the global economy and their development prospects.

She noted that although countries of the Global South account for a substantial share of the world’s population, natural resources and economic activity, their representation in international institutions remains a concern.

The Vice President said the global order must evolve to reflect contemporary realities and give developing countries a meaningful voice in decisions affecting their economies and populations.

Professor Opoku-Agyemang also stressed the need for global climate arrangements to reflect the different circumstances of developing countries.

Her position formed part of a broader argument for international systems that recognise the varying needs and capacities of countries, rather than treating their development challenges as identical.

She urged countries of the Global South to strengthen cooperation and pursue development approaches suited to their own circumstances.

The Vice President encouraged them to learn from one another’s experiences, including China’s development journey, without assuming that every country must adopt the same political system or development model.

She further advocated stronger collaboration among universities and research institutions across the Global South, particularly in science, technology and artificial intelligence.

According to her, South-South cooperation should extend beyond infrastructure development to strengthen local productive capacity, support research and innovation, and create opportunities for young people.

On governance, Professor Opoku-Agyemang highlighted the role of political parties in shaping national development and sustaining democratic institutions.

She said political parties must strengthen policy development, political education and democratic accountability while creating greater opportunities for women and young people to participate in political processes.

The Global South Academic Forum, initiated by the International Communication Research Institute of East China Normal University, brings together scholars, policymakers and media professionals to discuss governance, political parties and modernisation in developing countries.

The forum provides a platform for participants to examine how countries of the Global South can strengthen cooperation and contribute more effectively to global decision-making.