Ghana wishes Guyanese diplomat well in UN Secretary-General bid – Ablakwa

Minister for Foreign Affairs Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa has expressed Ghana's best wishes to Guyanese diplomat Carolyn Allison Rodrigues-Birkett as she seeks to become the next Secretary-General of the United Nations (UN).

Mr Ablakwa said he held discussions with the former Guyanese Foreign Minister on her vision and priorities for the UN if she succeeds in her bid for the position.

The meeting also focused on reforms within the UN and efforts to make the organisation more responsive to the expectations of member states, particularly countries in the Global South.

“I held a great meeting with aspiring United Nations Secretary-General, Her Excellency Carolyn Allison Rodrigues-Birkett,” Mr Ablakwa said in a social media post on Thursday, September 10.

According to the Foreign Affairs Minister, the meeting provided an opportunity for both sides to exchange ideas on how the world's foremost multilateral organisation could become more effective and fit for purpose.

He said the discussions were particularly relevant to ongoing calls for reforms that would better reflect the interests and expectations of countries in the Global South.

“Ghana wishes the distinguished Guyanese diplomat and former Foreign Minister the very best,” he said.

Ms Rodrigues-Birkett is among diplomats whose names have emerged in discussions around the succession to the current UN Secretary-General, António Guterres, whose second term ends in December 2026.

The UN Secretary-General is appointed by the General Assembly on the recommendation of the Security Council.