President John Dramani Mahama has called for a more equitable global order, insisting that Africa must be treated as an equal partner rather than a recipient of charity.
Speaking at the 81st United Nations General Assembly in New York, President Mahama said Africa would no longer accept a global system in which the continent’s resources and interests are treated as secondary.
“Africa does not seek charity; we seek equal partnership,” he said.
The President also called for greater representation for Africa within the United Nations system, noting that the continent accounts for about 18% of humanity and constitutes the largest regional voting bloc at the UN, yet has no permanent seat on the UN Security Council.
He argued that Africa’s exclusion from permanent membership reflects longstanding inequalities in global governance, and renewed calls for reforms that would give the continent a permanent voice on the Council.
President Mahama also addressed the legacy of the trans-Atlantic slave trade, criticising historical accounts that, in his view, have often obscured the scale of the suffering endured by Africans.
“For centuries, the tragedy of the trans-Atlantic slave trade was rendered in the passive voice, as though millions of Africans simply vanished into the ‘shadows of time’,” he said.
He stressed the need for greater recognition of Africa’s historical experiences as part of efforts toward global justice.
The President further declared that Africa would no longer remain an “arena of scramble for resources,” signalling a push for stronger African ownership and participation in decisions concerning the continent’s natural resources and development.
His remarks come as the 81st UN General Assembly focuses on the theme “Restoring Trust, Managing Transformation: A United Nations That Delivers for All.”
President Mahama’s address forms part of Ghana’s broader engagement at the UN General Assembly on issues including African representation, historical justice and reforms to the global development system.