Addressing the 80th Session of the United Nations General Assembly, Ghana’s President John Dramani Mahama delivered a stirring call for a global “reset,” positioning Africa as the primary engine of the world’s future. Highlighting the continent’s rapidly growing youth population, President Mahama argued that the current international order remains tethered to a colonial past that systematically excluded African voices.
He traced this marginalization back to the “Scramble for Africa,” noting that the continent had minimal involvement in the founding of both the League of Nations and the United Nations. To rectify this historical imbalance, he demanded a permanent African seat on the UN Security Council with full veto power and a comprehensive overhaul of the global financial architecture to better serve developing nations.
Drawing parallels to home, the President showcased Ghana’s own “reset agenda,” citing a successful economic recovery characterized by significant reductions in inflation, a strengthening currency, and renewed investor confidence.
However, he warned that such domestic progress is often threatened by broader global crises. He touched upon the dual threats of unregulated modern technology and climate change, while also addressing urgent humanitarian concerns. Specifically, President Mahama condemned the ongoing violence in Gaza, advocating for a two-state solution for Palestine, and called for increased international attention to the crisis in Sudan. He also took a firm stand against xenophobia, challenging negative narratives surrounding migration by highlighting the immense social and economic contributions migrants make to their host societies.
A central pillar of the President’s address was a bold stance on historical justice. Declaring Ghana a champion for reparations, he announced intentions to introduce a formal motion at the UN to recognize the trans-Atlantic slave trade as the greatest crime against humanity. The proposal seeks to demand compensation for centuries of historical injustices and the systematic exploitation of African resources. Closing his address on a note of gender empowerment, Mahama celebrated the election of the Assembly’s female President and highlighted the milestone of Ghana’s first female Vice President. Expressing hope for the eventual election of the first female UN Secretary-General, he emphasized that the global reset must be rooted in the full empowerment of women and girls.