New york: President John Dramani Mahama has reaffirmed Ghana's commitment to Palestine Statehood and a two-state solution to the Israel/Palestine conflict at the 80th Session of the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA80) in New York.
According to Ghana News Agency, President Mahama, in his address at the UNGA80 Session, expressed concern over the denial of visas to Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas and his delegation, describing it as a bad precedent that should concern all United Nations member nations. Ghana recognized Palestine as a state in 1988 and has consistently supported a two-state solution since then.
President Mahama emphasized that a two-state solution would not be a reward for Hamas but a necessary step to alleviate the suffering of innocent women, children, and people facing collective punishment and starvation in Palestine. He criticized the reluctance of UN member states to address the situation in Gaza directly, urging them to face the reality of the crisis.
Highlighting other global issues, President Mahama also brought attention to the humanitarian crisis in Sudan, which he described as the world's largest. He pointed out the plight of 12 million Sudanese refugees and urged the international community to offer support comparable to that provided to Ukrainian refugees.
He further addressed the issue of migration, noting that many immigrants from the global south are climate refugees. He criticized the disproportionate contribution of the global north to greenhouse gas emissions and the severe impact of climate change on the global south, which lacks resources to mitigate these effects.
President Mahama quoted Somali-British poet Warsan Shire to emphasize the desperation faced by refugees, highlighting the need for compassion and understanding in addressing migration issues. He called for an end to cruelty, hatred, xenophobia, and racism, advocating for truthful storytelling in addressing these global challenges.
