By Marcus Moloko
President Cyril Ramaphosa’s opening address at the G20 Leaders’ Summit was not simply ceremonial, it positioned Africa as a central player in global governance.
Here are five key points from Ramaphosa’s opening remarks and why these points remain crucial to bridging Africa’s aspirations with global challenges.
1 Solidarity theme
Ramaphosa picked solidarity, equality, and sustainability as the guiding themes of his G20 Presidency.
This theme matters as it addresses global challenges such as inequality, climate change, exclusion and frames the summit around shared responsibility to ensure that vulnerable nations and communities are not left behind.
2. Global South and African priorities
Ramaphosa said South Africa worked to ensure that “the development priorities of the global south and the African continent find expression firmly and permanently on the agenda of the G20”.
This is key as African and global south concerns have in the past been underrepresented in global decision-making. Ramaphosa brought issues such as debt relief, infrastructure, and inclusive growth to the fore as they strengthen Africa’s role in shaping solutions to global crises, and ensured that development was not skewed toward wealthier nations.
3. Ramaphosa outlined four high-level priorities of the country’s G20 presidency
These were:
- Strengthening disaster resilience and response
- Advancing debt sustainability for low-income countries
- Mobilising finance for a just energy transition
- Harnessing critical minerals for inclusive growth through local beneficiation
4. International financial institutions reform
He called for reforms to make financial institutions “more inclusive and equipped to meet the challenges both of the present and the future”.
Reforming these structures is necessary for equitable development, reducing systemic risks while enabling countries to invest in health, education, and infrastructure.
5. Call for collective action
Ramaphosa in his address stressed that “the challenges we all face can only be resolved through cooperation, collaboration and partnership”.
This reinforced the idea that global issues, from pandemics to climate change, required collective solutions.
Here’s what to expect across the two days of the G20 Leaders’ Summit.
Day one – Saturday, 22 November 2025
The first major session focuses on inclusive and sustainable economic growth, tackling issues such as trade, financing for development, and the global debt burden. Delegates will also hear presentations from the Africa expert panel and the Extraordinary Committee of Independent Experts on Global Wealth Inequality, followed by a working lunch and the traditional “family photo”.
Later in the afternoon, leaders reconvene for the second session, which will address disaster risk reduction, climate change, just energy transitions, and food systems.
The day concludes with a G20 leaders’ reception in the evening, offering space for informal networking before delegations return to their hotels.
Day two – Sunday, 23 November 2025
The second day begins with session three.
Leaders will deliberate on critical minerals, decent work, and the role of artificial intelligence in shaping economies.
This session also includes the presentation of the G20@20 Review and ends with the adoption of the Johannesburg Leaders’ Declaration, a key outcome document signaling collective commitments.
The summit closes with a handover ceremony and final remarks at midday, followed by a light lunch and bilateral meetings.
Delegates then depart at leisure, marking the end of two days of intensive dialogue and historic decision-making.
Watch the opening remarks below:
INSIDE POLITICS