President of UNGA fully aligns with Africa’s demand for permanent seats on UN Security Council - Ablakwa
As Dr. Rahman has famously said, 'Africa needs to be at the table, not on the menu
Minister of Foreign Affairs, Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa has said that his meeting with the President of the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA), His Excellency Dr. Khalilur Rahman last week at the UN was most inspiring and substantive.
He confirmed that Dr. Rahman genuinely believes in UN reforms, and he fully aligns with Africa’s legitimate demand for permanent seats on the UN Security Council.
"As Dr. Rahman has famously said, 'Africa needs to be at the table, not on the menu,'." Mr Ablakwa said.
They also discussed next year’s highly anticipated report of the new UN Secretary-General to the General Assembly on progress made since the historic adoption of the Ghana-led UN resolution declaring the transatlantic enslavement as the gravest crime against humanity.
The resolution mandates the new Secretary-General to report to the 82nd session of the UN General Assembly.
"I wish the distinguished former Bangladeshi Foreign Minister the very best in his new role," Mr Ablakwa wrote on X.
President John Dramani Mahama also renewed calls for Africa to be granted permanent representation on the United Nations Security Council, arguing that the continent’s absence from the council’s permanent membership reflects longstanding inequalities in the global governance system.
Speaking at the 81st United Nations General Assembly in New York on Thursday, September 24, President Mahama said meaningful reform of the international system must include correcting what he described as historical injustices embedded in the existing global power structures.
He maintained that Africa’s demographic and political significance in the international community can no longer be overlooked in discussions about the composition and reform of the UN Security Council.
According to President Mahama, Africa is home to a significant proportion of the world’s population and represents the largest regional voting bloc within the UN General Assembly.
He therefore argued that the continent’s continued exclusion from the permanent membership of the Security Council is inconsistent with the realities of the 21st century.