UN @81: Africa’s exclusion from permanent UN Security Council membership unacceptable – Ghana

Ghana has renewed calls for reforms at the United Nations (UN), insisting that Africa must have meaningful representation in global decision-making, including permanent representation on the UN Security Council.

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs said the continent’s continued exclusion from permanent membership of the Security Council undermines efforts to build a fairer and more representative international order.

In a press statement issued on Wednesday, October 21, to mark the 81st anniversary of UN Day on October 24, the Ministry said the occasion presents an opportunity to push for a more effective multilateral system that responds to the priorities of member states.

“President John Dramani Mahama, at the 81st Session of the United Nations General Assembly in New York, decried the situation where Africa remains without permanent representation on the United Nations Security Council despite constituting the largest regional voting bloc in the General Assembly,” the statement said in part.

The Ministry said Ghana’s position aligns with the anniversary theme, “Restoring Trust, Managing Transformation: A United Nations that Delivers for Africa.”

It also called for reforms to the international financial architecture to make financing more affordable for developing countries, alongside stronger action on climate justice, industrialisation, job creation and value addition to Africa’s natural resources.

The statement further stressed that restoring confidence in multilateralism requires accountability and good governance, with development and democratic governance translating into tangible improvements in citizens’ lives.

It identified access to healthcare, education, economic opportunities and social protection as key areas in which international commitments must produce measurable results.

The UN was established in 1945, and UN Day is observed annually on October 24 to commemorate the entry into force of the UN Charter.