By Emmanuel Bamfo 
President John Dramani Mahama has delivered a fiery address at the 81st United Nations General Assembly in New York, demanding immediate structural reform of the UN Security Council. He insisted that excluding Africa from permanent membership remains an unacceptable injustice in the 21st century.
Addressing world leaders, President Mahama pointed out that Africa represents 1.5 billion people, making up over 18 percent of humanity and the largest regional voting bloc in the General Assembly. Despite these numbers, the continent holds zero permanent seats on the decision-making body.
The Ghanaian leader argued that the current Security Council setup rewards post-World War II realities rather than contemporary global facts. He noted that five nations cannot continue exercising absolute authority over global security decisions without accountability.
Reforming the council, Mahama stressed, is not a special favor extended to Africa. Instead, granting the continent permanent seats complete with veto power is an imperative step to restore credibility to multilateral governance.
President Mahama reiterated the continent’s shared diplomatic stance as outlined in the African Union’s Ezulwini Consensus and Sirte Declaration. The framework demands at least two permanent seats with full rights, alongside additional non-permanent representation.
He questioned why global powers continue to ignore three decades of repeated requests from African statesmen. He reminded the assembly that delaying structural reform weakens public trust in international institutions.
Beyond council seats, the President urged international partners to reset global financial architecture that disadvantages developing economies. He emphasized that true global stability requires treating every region as an equal stakeholder.
Ghana remains steadfast on the global stage, advocating for historic fairness, economic equity, and full recognition. African leaders expect the international community to move past empty promises and act decisively.
Also Read: what Mahama told world leaders at the UN general assembly
Source: Ghana News Page