President Mahama Renews Call for Africa’s Permanent Seat on UN Security Council

President John Dramani Mahama has renewed his call for Africa to be granted a permanent seat on the United Nations Security Council, describing the continent’s continued exclusion from the world’s most powerful decision-making body as a “historical injustice that must be corrected.”

President Mahama made the remarks during bilateral discussions with German President Frank-Walter Steinmeier, who is in Ghana for a three-day state visit aimed at strengthening diplomatic and economic ties between the two countries.

“Africa, with 54 countries and more than 1.4 billion people, remains the only inhabited continent without a permanent seat on the United Nations Security Council,” President Mahama stated. “This is not only unfair but undermines the legitimacy of the global governance system.”

He emphasized the urgency of reforming the UN’s structure, noting that Africa’s exclusion is inconsistent with modern global realities. “It is time the world moved beyond rhetoric and acted to correct this injustice,” he declared.

President Mahama reaffirmed Africa’s unified stance as outlined in the African Union’s Ezulwini Consensus and the Sirte Declaration, both of which call for comprehensive reform of the Security Council. “The continent demands at least two permanent seats with veto power, along with additional non-permanent seats,” he explained.

The President also commended Germany’s longstanding support for UN reform, acknowledging President Steinmeier and his government for their “principled stand” on ensuring Africa’s fair representation in global governance.

“Germany has consistently supported UN Security Council reform and Africa’s rightful place at the table,” President Mahama said.

His renewed call reflects Ghana’s ongoing diplomatic advocacy for equitable representation in international institutions, particularly as African nations seek greater influence in shaping global policy.

The United Nations Security Council currently consists of five permanent members with veto power — the United States, Russia, China, France, and the United Kingdom — along with ten non-permanent members elected for two-year terms.