President Mahama addresses 81st United Nations General Assembly
President John Dramani Mahama has addressed the 81st United Nations General Assembly in New York, calling for a more just, inclusive and accountable global order in the face of growing geopolitical tensions, inequality, conflicts and declining trust in multilateral institutions.
In his address, President Mahama reaffirmed Ghana’s commitment to the principles of the United Nations and urged world leaders to uphold the dignity, rights and equality of every human being.
He called for permanent African representation on the UN Security Council, arguing that Africa’s absence from the permanent membership structure is inconsistent with the principle of sovereign equality among nations.
“Security Council reform is not a favour to Africa; it is an imperative for the legitimacy, the credibility, and the survival of the United Nations,” he said.
President Mahama also called for reforms to the international financial architecture, noting that developing countries often face significantly higher borrowing costs than industrialised economies.
He advocated long-term, affordable and accessible concessional financing to enable developing countries to invest in human capital, industrialisation and climate adaptation.
On Africa’s natural resources, President Mahama warned against a new form of resource exploitation and called for greater value addition on the continent.
“Africa will not remain a passive arena for a new scramble for resources,” he declared, insisting that critical minerals should be processed locally to create jobs and retain more value within African economies.
The President also addressed historical injustices linked to the transatlantic slave trade and racialised chattel enslavement of Africans. He called for continued international dialogue on reparatory justice, arguing that meaningful repair requires addressing structural inequalities that persist in the global economic system.
On global conflicts, President Mahama called for urgent international action on the crises in Gaza and Sudan. He reaffirmed Ghana’s support for a viable two-state solution between Israel and Palestine, while condemning terrorism and calling on all parties to respect international humanitarian law.
He further urged a stronger global response to Sudan’s humanitarian crisis and called for greater solidarity with countries confronting terrorism in the Sahel.
Climate change also featured prominently in the President’s address. He called for climate justice and predictable, non-debt-creating financial support for vulnerable developing countries, particularly African nations that contribute relatively little to global greenhouse gas emissions but face severe climate impacts.
President Mahama also highlighted Ghana’s domestic economic and social programmes, including the government’s infrastructure agenda, the 24-hour economy and accelerated export development programme, industrialisation initiatives and the expansion of social protection and healthcare.
He said Ghana’s economic recovery must ultimately translate into tangible improvements in the lives of citizens.
“Economic growth and progress must have a human face,” President Mahama said.
Looking ahead, he said Ghana would use its forthcoming chairmanship of the African Union to promote continental integration, accelerate implementation of the African Continental Free Trade Area, advance peace and security, and strengthen Africa’s voice on the global stage.
Concluding his address, President Mahama called on world leaders to build a global system based on justice, human dignity, solidarity and shared responsibility.
He said the world must learn to see refugees, migrants, conflict-affected children, vulnerable communities and displaced people as part of a single human family whose rights and dignity must be protected.
