New York — Ghana’s President John Dramani Mahama called on world leaders at the 80th United Nations General Assembly to overhaul the UN system, demanding that Africa be granted a permanent seat on the Security Counciland challenging the concentration of veto power in just five nations.
Mahama framed his call within the broader theme of global justice and institutional legitimacy, asserting that the United Nations has grown obsolete in its structure and no longer reflects realities of 2025.
“If this principle were truly applied, a continent as large as Africa, with its numerous UN Member states, would have at least one permanent seat on the Security Council,” he declared.
“Thirty years later, we African leaders are still making the same request: for a permanent seat on the Security Council, with the power of veto. So, today, Madam President, I stand here in this exact spot, asking: if not now, then when?” Graphic Online
Why Reform is a Central Demand
Mahama argued that the UN Charter’s principle of sovereign equality is undermined by the existing power structure, where the victors of World War II retain near-absolute control through veto authority.
He contended that veto power should not be restricted to five nations, urging that the General Assembly be able to challenge or check a veto. “No single nation should be able to exercise an absolute veto to serve its own interests,” he said. MyJoyOnline
He also called for a “reset agenda” for the UN itself, arguing that membership has vastly expanded since 1945 yet the structure of power has not evolved. He said the UN’s charted values and power dynamics are lagging far behind in a world shaped by digital transformation, shifting alliances, and demographic change. (citing Graphic and Pulse) GraphicPulse
Historical & Institutional Context
Calls for African representation on the Security Council are not new. The Ezulwini Consensus, adopted by the African Union, has long advocated for at least two permanent seats for Africa with veto powers. Mahama reaffirmed this as the continent’s collective position. Graphic
He also evoked the memory of Nelson Mandela’s 1995 address to the UN, in which Mandela urged that the UN “reassess its role, redefine its profile, and reshape its structures.” Mahama used that historical thread to argue that three decades later, the demand remains unmet. MyJoyOnline
Reactions to Mahama’s Call
Several media outlets in Ghana and across Africa have already reacted, calling Mahama’s remarks bold and timely. In domestic coverage, Graphic described his call as a demand for fairness in global governance. Graphic
Political analysts are expected to frame this as both a moral and strategic appeal—putting pressure on UN member states to reckon with demographic, economic, and geopolitical shifts in the 21st century.
