New york: President John Dramani Mahama has called for Africa's representation as a permanent member of the United Nations Security Council. Speaking at the 80th Session of the UN General Assembly (UNGA80) Meeting, President Mahama argued that the UN founding Charter was outdated in terms of representation and emphasized the need for reform.
According to Ghana News Agency, President Mahama highlighted that the most powerful post-World War II nations still hold significant control, as evidenced by the current structure of the Security Council. He cited Chapter 2, Article 1 of the UN Charter, which states the principle of sovereign equality among all members, questioning why Africa, with its numerous UN Member states, lacks a permanent seat on the Council. He further argued that veto power should not be restricted to just five nations and called for a mechanism for the General Assembly to challenge vetoes to prevent any single nation from serving its own interests in conflicts.
President Mahama also recounted Africa's minimal role in the founding of the United Nations, pointing out that only four African countries-Egypt, Ethiopia, Liberia, and South Africa-were among the 51 member states involved in 1945. He drew a parallel to the League of Nations, where Africa's participation was similarly limited, with only three initial members. He linked this to the historical context of the Berlin Conference, which led to the partitioning and colonization of Africa, arguing that Africa was excluded from global decision-making processes.
Highlighting the changes in the world since the UN's founding, President Mahama called for the organization to embark on a recalibration and establish a reset agenda. He noted that the number of UN Member Nations has nearly quadrupled, and global conditions have evolved significantly, contrasting this with the state of the world in 1945.
Citing Nelson Mandela's call during the UN's 50th anniversary for the organization to reflect global diversity and ensure equity, President Mahama reiterated Africa's long-standing request for a permanent seat on the Security Council. He also demanded a reset of the global financial architecture, which he argued is currently biased against Africa, advocating for greater African influence in multilateral financial institutions.
The UN Security Council, tasked with maintaining international peace and security, comprises 15 member states, including five permanent members with veto power, and 10 non-permanent members elected for two-year terms by the UN General Assembly.
