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President John Dramani Mahama has renewed Ghana’s call for Africa to be given permanent representation on the United Nations Security Council, arguing that the continent’s exclusion from the council’s permanent membership reflects persistent inequalities in the global governance system.
Speaking at the 81st United Nations General Assembly in New York on Thursday, September 24, President Mahama said meaningful reform of the international system must address historical inequalities that continue to shape global decision-making structures.
He said Africa’s growing demographic and political importance should be reflected in any efforts to reform the composition of the UN Security Council.
According to the President, Africa is home to about 1.5 billion people, representing more than 18 percent of the world’s population, while its 54 member states make it the largest regional bloc in the UN General Assembly.
He argued that Africa’s continued absence from the permanent membership of the Security Council no longer reflects contemporary global realities.
“The injustices of the past remain embedded in today’s power structures. Africa is home to 1.5 billion people. Over 18% of humanity and constitutes the largest regional voting bloc in this General Assembly and yet Africa remains without a single permanent seat on the United Nations Security Council,” he said.
President Mahama described the situation as unacceptable and called for Africa to be granted permanent representation with the same rights and responsibilities associated with permanent membership.
“This is fundamentally unacceptable in the 21st century. Africa must be granted permanent representation on the UN Security Council, complete with all the rights and responsibilities,” he stated.
His call forms part of broader demands for reform of the UN Security Council to make the international body more representative of current global political and demographic realities.