President Mahama presses for urgent UN Security Council reform

President John Dramani Mahama has called for sweeping reforms of the United Nations Security Council (UNSC), insisting that the current structure no longer reflects global realities and undermines the body’s legitimacy.

Speaking at the 80th UN General Assembly on September 25, President Mahama questioned why Africa, with its size and influence, continues to be denied permanent representation on the Council. “If this were truly the case, a continent as large as Africa with its numerous UN Member States would have at least one permanent seat on the Security Council. Furthermore, veto power should not be restricted to five nations, nor should it be absolute,” he said.

He recalled that African leaders had been making this demand for more than three decades without any progress. “Thirty years later, we are still making the same request. So, today, Madam President, I stand here in this exact spot asking: if not now, then when?” he challenged.

President Mahama stressed that the refusal to address the imbalance fuels perceptions of bias and marginalisation, eroding trust in the UN. He warned that if reforms were not pursued, the institution risked becoming irrelevant to billions of people. “If the UN cannot reform itself to reflect today’s realities, it risks losing the legitimacy and trust of billions of people around the globe,” he stated.

The President also highlighted the role Africa plays in peacekeeping operations, humanitarian support, and the global economy, insisting that such contributions demand equal political recognition.

He noted that the AU’s Ezulwini Consensus, which calls for at least two permanent seats for Africa on the UNSC with veto powers, remained the clearest expression of the continent’s collective demand.

The Ghanaian leader argued that global governance must be restructured to reflect fairness, justice, and inclusivity, saying it was the only way the UN could meet its founding ideals.

He concluded by urging world leaders to act decisively. “History will not absolve us if we continue to speak of reform without the courage to implement it,” he said.