President John Dramani Mahama of Ghana has called on world leaders to adopt a partnership approach with Africa, based on mutual respect, rather than charity. Addressing the United Nations General Assembly in New York, he emphasized that Africa's demographic and resource endowment make it central to the world's future, but that future must be defined by Africans themselves. With the world's youngest population, vast arable lands, and critical minerals required for the global green energy transition, Africa is poised to play a significant role.
President Mahama warned that Africa will not accept the colonial model of resource extraction, where the continent's resources are exploited without benefit to its people. He stressed that critical mineral extraction in Africa must not replicate colonial-era exploitation, and that the continent will process its minerals at home, build local industries, and retain the value of its natural resources. This approach, he argued, will create dignified jobs for African youth and drive economic growth.
The President also called on the UN to dismantle what he described as the "persistent engines of exploitation" that continue to hold Africa and the Global South in subjugation. These include unfair trade, predatory resource extraction, and a punitive global financial architecture. He argued that the landmark Resolution on Reparatory Justice, recently adopted by the UN, must lead to structural transformation of global governance and finance.
President Mahama emphasized that real repair demands more than symbolism, and that the structural legacies of slavery continue to fuel modern inequalities. He welcomed positive overtures from countries and institutions that have joined the Dialogue on Reparative Justice, but warned that dialogue alone is not enough. The injustices of the past remain embedded in today's power structures, and systemic inequalities permeate the international financial system.
The President highlighted the urgent need for UN Security Council reform, citing Africa's exclusion as indefensible. With 1.5 billion people, over 18% of humanity, and the largest regional voting bloc in the General Assembly, Africa must be granted permanent representation on the UN Security Council. This, he argued, is not a favour to Africa, but an imperative for the legitimacy, credibility, and survival of the UN.
President Mahama also condemned the actions of Israel in Gaza, stressing that collective punishments, enforced starvation, and mass displacement are flagrant violations of international law. He reaffirmed Ghana's long-standing foreign policy position on the Middle East, recognizing the sovereign state of Palestine and supporting a viable two-state solution. He also called for the immediate lifting of the decades-long economic, commercial, and financial embargo imposed on Cuba by the United States.
Finally, President Mahama drew attention to the world's worst humanitarian crisis in Sudan and the worsening security situation in the Sahel. He urged world leaders to address these pressing issues and to work towards a more equitable and just global order. The President's address to the UN General Assembly reflects Ghana's commitment to promoting African interests and advocating for a more inclusive and sustainable global future.
Key points
- President Mahama calls for partnership approach with Africa based on mutual respect.
- Africa will not accept colonial model of resource extraction.
- UN Security Council reform is imperative for legitimacy and credibility.
