President John Dramani Mahama has called for permanent African representation on the United Nations Security Council, including veto powers, arguing that the current global governance structure does not reflect contemporary geopolitical realities.
Addressing the 81st Session of the United Nations General Assembly in New York on Thursday, September 24, 2026, President Mahama said Africa’s absence from the permanent membership of the Security Council undermined the principle of sovereign equality among nations.
“Africa must be granted permanent representation on the UN Security Council, complete with all the rights, responsibilities, and veto powers of such membership,” he said.
He described Security Council reform as essential to the credibility of the United Nations, rather than a concession to the continent.
“Security Council reform is not a favour to Africa; it is an imperative for the legitimacy, credibility, and survival of the United Nations,” President Mahama said.
Africa, he noted, has a population of about 1.5 billion, representing more than 18 per cent of humanity, and constitutes the largest regional voting bloc in the General Assembly.
The President also called for reforms to the international financial system, highlighting the disparity in borrowing costs between developing and industrialised economies.
He said developing countries could borrow at interest rates as much as eight times higher than those available to industrialised nations, while countries affected by climate-related disasters were often forced to assume additional debt to finance reconstruction.
“Governments are forced into a tragic choice: to service predatory debt or serve their people. We demand reform,” he said.
Mr Mahama urged the international community to provide developing countries with long-term, affordable and accessible concessionary financing to support investment in human capital, industrialisation and climate adaptation.
He said Africa was seeking partnership rather than aid, citing its young population, agricultural potential, cultural resources and critical minerals needed for the global transition to green energy.
“Africa does not seek charity. Africa seeks equal partnership anchored in mutual respect,” he said.
The President also warned against repeating historical patterns through the extraction of Africa’s critical minerals without local value addition.
He said African countries should process minerals domestically, develop industries and create jobs while retaining a greater share of the economic value generated from their natural resources.
Mr Mahama further identified the African Continental Free Trade Area, whose Secretariat is hosted in Accra, as an important vehicle for increasing intra-African trade, industrialisation and structural transformation.
