President John Mahama’s address at the 80th Session of the United Nations General Assembly was a pivotal statement, brilliantly synthesising Ghana’s domestic economic turnaround with a firm demand for global institutional reform.
The speech continues to drive continental dialogue, resonating deeply with Ghanaian aspirations for economic self-reliance and global recognition. This dual focus strategically reframes Ghana’s internal achievements as leverage for demanding a greater African voice on the world stage.
Reset agenda delivers economic relief
The President highlighted tangible successes in Ghana’s reset agenda, following the start of his non-consecutive second term in January. He reported that inflation had dramatically fallen from 23.8% in December 2024 to 11.5% in August 2025. This restoration of price stability directly impacts the cost of living for every Ghanaian family.
At one point, Bloomberg recognised the Ghana cedi as the best-performing currency in the world. This appreciation has eased pressure on imported goods while boosting national pride. The improved sovereign credit rating reflects growing investor confidence and market approval for fiscal discipline. This rapid turnaround serves as empirical evidence, challenging external narratives that often dismiss African states’ capacity for effective macroeconomic management.
24-Hour Economy ignites hope for jobs
The 24-Hour Economy Initiative offers hope for increased employment and stronger domestic activity. President Mahama explicitly described the initiative as one that will “transform Ghana’s economy.”
For the average Ghanaian, this policy is directly linked to expectations of secure, better-paying jobs. It signals renewed public trust that elected officials are prioritising Ghana’s interests. The initiative also represents a proactive, domestically driven solution to unemployment, reducing dependence on volatile global aid or foreign investment for job creation.
Africa’s demographic future demands respect
Mahama emphatically declared, “The future is African!” He cited UN projections that by 2050, over 25% of the world’s population will be African, and one-third of all young people aged 15 to 24 will reside on the continent.
This demographic power is the central driver for Africa’s “huge” and “consequential” role in global affairs. The President insisted that African resilience and the continent’s ability to make a “strong comeback” must be acknowledged, challenging views rooted in “centuries of racism, colonialism, imperialism, and the resulting implicit bias.”
By pivoting the conversation from poverty to power, Mahama asserted that global stability itself is contingent upon African development and inclusion.
Demand for UN reform and financial justice
Mahama directly challenged the global power structure. He called for a permanent African seat on the UN Security Council, complete with veto power. He stressed that the current structure is outdated and violates the UN Charter’s principle of “sovereign equality.”
Highlighting the deep injustice of Africa’s minimal representation at the UN’s founding, the President linked this historical exclusion to the present global financial architecture, describing it as “rigged against Africa.” He demanded a “reset” of this system to allow greater African influence.
Mahama also argued that veto power should not be absolute, urging for a mechanism that would allow the General Assembly to challenge a veto—a proposal first suggested by Nelson Mandela three decades ago.
This comprehensive critique marked a shift from requesting aid to insisting on structural parity, positioning Africa as a global agenda-setter.
Sovereignty and reparations drive foreign policy
The President’s push for sovereignty over natural resources struck a major chord. He declared that the era of parceling out “vast concession areas to foreign interests” must end, insisting Ghana must “negotiate better for a bigger share” of its resources.
He expressed frustration at the image of “poverty-stricken, disease-ridden rural communities” living near vast foreign-controlled concessions. Mahama also announced plans to introduce a UN motion recognising the slave trade as the “greatest crime against humanity” and demanding reparations.
This Pan-African call seeks historical redress for the wealth created by the twelve and a half million Africans forcibly taken. He underscored the hypocrisy of governments that once paid reparations to former slave owners for the loss of their “property”—enslaved people.
By linking resource control to historical injustice, Mahama unified economic nationalism with the Pan-African struggle for dignity and financial equity.
Strong stances on Cuba, Gaza, and Sudan
Mahama used Ghana’s UN platform to advocate strongly on foreign policy. He called for the removal of the blockade on Cuba, recalling that the Cuban people “shed their blood on African soil in the fight against apartheid.” This aligned with Kwame Nkrumah’s principle: “We seek to be friends of all and enemies to none.”
On the Middle East, he condemned the humanitarian crisis in Gaza. He described a two-state solution as a “reprieve for the hundreds of thousands of innocent people” facing “collective punishment and forced starvation.” Using a striking analogy, he said: “If it looks like a duck, swims like a duck, and quacks like a duck, well then… it must be a duck.”
He also highlighted the “world’s largest humanitarian crisis” in Sudan, contrasting the limited aid for 12 million new refugees with the extensive support extended to those from Ukraine. Critically, he warned that the denial of visas to President Abbas and the Palestinian delegation “sets a bad precedent.”
In these interventions, Ghana positioned itself as a principled non-aligned actor, prioritising historical solidarity and humanitarian concerns over geopolitical pressures.
Protecting the global town square
Mahama warned that the world is experiencing a “general breakdown of multilateralism.” He argued that the United Nations must be protected as the “proverbial town square” of the modern global village.
This analogy, deeply rooted in Ghanaian governance culture, underscored the UN’s role as the singular space where nations can gather, air grievances, and build community. He cautioned that unchecked nationalism and disruptive technologies such as AI and social media threaten this vital multilateral space.
Women’s leadership and Ghanaian excellence
Mahama stressed that women’s empowerment is crucial to global success. He congratulated Vice President Naana Jane Opoku-Agyemang, Ghana’s first female Vice President, ensuring every Ghanaian girl “knows the heights to which she can ascend.” He further called for the appointment of a woman as UN Secretary-General.
The President also highlighted the global achievements of Ghanaian migrants such as Judge Maame Ewusi-Mensah Frimpong and former UN Secretary-General Kofi Annan. These examples, he argued, counter xenophobic narratives by underscoring the valuable contributions of Africans worldwide.
Linking domestic strength to global voice
Mahama’s address established a central theme: Ghana’s economic competence is the foundation for Africa’s global confidence. By showcasing domestic success—from inflation control to the “best-performing cedi”—he legitimised his demand for a reset of the global order.
The speech functioned as both a state-of-the-nation report and a bold Pan-African blueprint, ensuring Ghana’s voice remains influential in shaping a more equitable future. While diplomatic fallout from challenging global structures may be inevitable, the address sets a principled marker for Ghana’s foreign policy legacy and strengthens the nation’s leadership role within the African Union.
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Source: myjoyonline.com
