President John Dramani Mahama has renewed calls for urgent reforms to the United Nations Security Council, insisting that veto power should not remain the exclusive preserve of five nations.
Addressing the UN General Assembly on Thursday, September 25, Mahama described the current post-World War II structure as outdated and unfairly concentrated in the hands of a few countries.
“Veto power should not be restricted to five nations, nor should it be absolute. There must be a mechanism for the General Assembly to challenge a veto. No single nation should be able to exercise an absolute veto to serve its own interests in a conflict,” he stated.
Mahama argued that if equality were upheld, Africa—with its 54 member states—would have at least one permanent seat on the Council. He cited the UN Charter’s principle of sovereign equality, questioning why Africa continued to be sidelined.
Quoting Nelson Mandela’s 1995 appeal for the UN to “reassess its role, redefine its profile, and reshape its structures,” Mahama said little had changed three decades on.
“Today, we African leaders are still making the same request: for a permanent seat on the Security Council, with the power of veto. So, I ask again: if not now, then when?” he declared.
He further called for a reset of the global financial system, describing it as rigged against Africa, and demanded stronger African representation and influence in international financial institutions.
Source: AdomOnline
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