President John Dramani Mahama has advocated for urgent reforms at the United Nations, particularly concerning the veto power held exclusively by five nations.
He argued that the current UN structure, a remnant of the post-World War II era, is an outdated system that unfairly centralizes power.
During his address at the 80th General Assembly, Mahama asserted that the veto power should neither be restricted to five nations nor be absolute. He called for a mechanism allowing the General Assembly to challenge a veto, stating, “No single nation should be able to exercise an absolute veto to serve its own interests in a conflict.”
He also added that a continent of Africa’s size, with its numerous member states, deserves at least one permanent seat on the Security Council.
President Mahama further noted that “The most powerful post-World War II nations are still being rewarded with an almost totalitarian guardianship over the rest of the world. And yet, the first sentence in Chapter 2, Article 1 of the UN Charter declares that ‘The Organization is based on the principle of the sovereign equality of all its members’.”
He referenced Nelson Mandela’s 1995 call for the UN to “reassess its role, redefine its profile, and reshape its structures,” highlighting the minimal progress made since then.
”Today, we African leaders are still making the same request: for a permanent seat on the Security Council, with the power of veto. So, I ask again: if not now, then when?” he declared.
By: Rainbowradioonline.com/Ghana
