By Boakye Stephen, Kumasi, Ghana | Reporting for Ghanaian News, Canada | June 4, 2026
President John Dramani Mahama has renewed Ghana’s long-standing position that Africa deserves permanent representation on the United Nations Security Council, describing the continent’s exclusion as a historic injustice that weakens the legitimacy of the global governance system.
Speaking at Chatham House in London during a presentation on “Navigating a Changing Global Order: Ghana’s Strategic Priorities,” President Mahama argued that institutions established after World War II must evolve to reflect present-day realities rather than the geopolitical circumstances of 1945.
According to him, Africa’s absence from permanent membership on the Security Council remains difficult to justify, especially given the continent’s demographic and political significance.
“Africa, with 54 member states at the United Nations and a population projected to constitute nearly one quarter of humanity by 2050, continues to be excluded from permanent representation on the United Nations Security Council.”
Mahama stressed that the issue extends beyond procedural reform and touches on broader questions of fairness and international legitimacy.
“This is not merely a procedural anomaly; it is a historical injustice and a structural imbalance that undermines the credibility of the multilateral system itself.”
The President further expressed concern about what he described as the selective application of international law and the erosion of multilateral consensus.
“Today, however, many of these norms are on the street.”
He cited unresolved conflicts, unmet climate financing commitments, shrinking development assistance, and growing geopolitical rivalries as evidence of increasing strain on the international order.
Mahama outlined four strategic priorities guiding Ghana’s foreign policy response: reforming global governance, advancing African integration, fostering mutually beneficial partnerships, and strengthening national sovereignty in development planning.
Commentary | Boakye Stephen
Mahama’s remarks reflect a position widely shared across the African Union under the Ezulwini Consensus, which demands at least two permanent African seats on the Security Council. While support for UN reform continues to grow internationally, actual changes remain difficult because amendments require approval from the current permanent members, some of whom are reluctant to dilute their influence. The speech reinforces Ghana’s ambition to remain an active voice in debates about global governance reform.
