On September 25, 2025, President John Dramani Mahama of Ghana delivered a powerful and unflinching address to the 80th United Nations General Assembly (UNGA), a speech that resonated as both a call to action and a profound challenge to the global status quo.
Speaking as both Ghana’s leader and the African Union’s Champion for Financial Institutions and Reparations, Mahama
articulated a vision that intertwined the world’s pressing challenges, Africa’s rising influence, and Ghana’s transformative journey. His address was a clarion call for reform, equity, and a reimagined global order, rooted in historical truths and forward-looking optimism.
A World in need of recalibration
Mahama began by confronting the stark realities of a world at a crossroads, where rising
nationalism, economic instability, and a breakdown in multilateralism threaten global peace. He
painted a vivid contrast between the world of 1945, when the UN was founded, and today’s era of
digital connectivity, climate crises, and geopolitical tensions. From the looming loss of island
nations like the Maldives to rising sea levels, to desertification in Timbuktu and deforestation in the
Amazon, Mahama underscored the urgency of addressing climate change a crisis
disproportionately impacting the Global South despite its lower contribution to greenhouse gas
emissions.
He challenged the outdated structures of global governance, particularly the UN Security Council,
where Africa remains excluded from permanent representation despite its 54 member states.
Mahamaechoed Nelson Mandela’s 1995call for reform, demanding at least one permanent African
seat with veto power and a mechanism to challenge the absolute veto held by the five permanent
members. He argued that the UN’s founding principle of “sovereign equality” is undermined
whenasingle nation can wield unchecked power to serve its own interests.
Mahama also called for a reset of the global financial architecture, which he described as rigged
against Africa. He highlighted inequities in institutions like the IMF and World Bank, advocating
for greater African influence in multilateral financial systems. Additionally, he urged the lifting of
the blockade on Cuba, citing its historical solidarity with Africa in the fight against apartheid, and
emphasized the UN’s role as the “proverbial town square” where nations must unite to address
global challenges.
On conflicts, Mahama spoke candidly about the humanitarian crises in Gaza and Sudan. He
rejected euphemisms, calling for a halt to the “crimes” in Gaza and supporting a two-state solution
for Palestine, not as a reward for violence but as justice for innocent civilians facing collective
punishment. In Sudan, he drew attention to the world’s largest humanitarian crisis, with 12 million
displaced, urging the global community to extend the same compassion to these refugees as it did
to those fromUkraine.
Africa’s Ascendant Future
At the heart of Mahama’s speech was a bold declaration: “ The future is African. ” With
projections that Africa will account for over 25% of the world’s population and one-third of its
youth by 2050, he positioned the continent as a catalyst for human potential, economic reform, and
ecological stability. Rejecting centuries-old lenses of racism, colonialism, and implicit bias,
Mahamacelebrated Africa’s resilience and its capacity to redefine global narratives.
Central to his vision was resource sovereignty. He called for an end to the era of foreign
exploitation of Africa’s natural wealth, advocating for fairer negotiations to ensure the continent
retains a greater share of its resources. This, he argued, is essential to fund the well-being of
African citizens and break the cycle of poverty-stricken communities living on the margins of
foreign-controlled concessions.
As AU Champion for Reparations, Mahama made a historic demand for the recognition of the slave
trade as the greatest crime against humanity. He announced Ghana’s intent to introduce a motion at
the UNGA for reparations, encompassing financial redress, the return of looted cultural artifacts,
and acknowledgment of the wealth created for Western nations through the enslavement and
colonization of Africans. He highlighted the hypocrisy of historical reparations paid to slave
owners for their “lost property” while the descendants of the enslaved continue to seek justice.
Mahama also addressed the steep cuts in Official Development Assistance, noting a 40% drop in
humanitarian aid to Africa since July 2024. He urged African nations to leverage their resources to
achieve self-reliance, reducing dependency on external aid and fostering dignity through economic
empowerment.
Ghana’s Reset: A model of transformation
Bringing his global and continental vision home, Mahama showcased Ghana’s ongoing “reset
agenda” as a blueprint for progress. Sworn in for his second non-consecutive term in January 2025,
he inherited a nation grappling with a depreciating currency, high inflation, and low morale. In just
eight months, his administration reduced inflation from 23.8% in December 2024 to 11.5% in
August 2025, stabilized the Ghana cedi, and improved the country ’ s sovereign credit rating,
signaling renewed investor confidence.
The 24-Hour Economy Initiative, a cornerstone of his economic strategy, aims to transform Ghana’s
economic foundation by fostering continuous productivity and job creation. Mahama emphasized
lean governance, anti-corruption measures, and trust-building with citizens as key drivers of this
turnaround. He also highlighted Ghana’s commitment to gender equality, celebrating the election
of Naana Jane Opoku-Agyemang as the country’s first female Vice President, a milestone that
inspires Ghanaian girls to aim for the highest echelons of leadership.
A call to protect the global town square
Mahama’s speech was not just a critique but a roadmap for a more equitable world. He warned
against the dangers of digital isolation, where algorithms reinforce division and disinformation,
undermining the connectivity promised by technology. In an era of rising xenophobia and
nationalism, he celebrated the contributions of African migrants and their descendants, citing
figures like Maame Ewusi-Mensah Frimpong, the first Black female judge on California’s federal
district courts, and Peter Bossman, the first Black mayor in Slovenia’s history.
In closing, Mahama reaffirmed the UN’s vital role as the world’s gathering place, urging its
preservation amid global fragmentation. He congratulated the Assembly’s President on her historic
election as the fifth woman in the role and expressed hope for a future female UN
Secretary-General. For Africa, for Ghana, and for his 18-year-old daughter, Mahama envisioned a
world of safety, equality, and opportunity of a world he believes is not only possible but already on
its way.
President Mahama’s address was a testament to the power of a single voice to challenge entrenched
systems and inspire collective action. As Ghana prepares to lead on reparations and global health
initiatives, the world must now decide whether it will heed his call to reset, reform, and rebuild for
a just future.
