President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo has reaffirmed Ghana’s commitment to ensuring free, fair and transparent elections in the upcoming presidential and parliamentary elections in December.
He said his government remained resolute in its commitment to upholding democratic values and the rule of law, stressing that “The people of Ghana, from every corner of the country, have made their voices clear: they will not tolerate any attempts to disrupt the democratic process.”
President Akufo-Addo who was speaking at the 78th session of the United Nations General Assembly in New York yesterday said Ghana’s commitment to democracy and the rule of law remained unparalleled in the sub region and nothing untoward would be done to blemish this record.
“As my presidency draws to a close, I want to assure this Assembly that the upcoming 2024 elections in Ghana will be free, fair, and transparent. Ghanaians have demonstrated time and time again, in the last three decades…their strong attachment to democracy and will not permit it to be undermined,” he said.
President Akufo-Addo said Ghana’s democratic credentials had long been held in high regard, with the country consistently ranked as one of Africa’s most stable and peaceful democracies on the continent and was in no way ready to jeopardise this enviable record.
“The Electoral Commission, supported by Ghana’s security services, is well-equipped to ensure that the will of the Ghanaian people is respected,” President Akufo-Addo said.
Touching on the UN, President Akufo-Addo reiterated an urgent need for the United Nations to reform the structure and composition of the Security Council, describing its current structure as outdated, unrepresentative, and insufficient to address the global challenges of today’s world.
He said there was the need for inclusivity and fairness within the council, arguing that the existing framework was no longer fit for purpose.
“The structure of the (UN Security) Council reflects a world that no longer exists,” President Akufo-Addo stated, “and its failure to act in times of crisis raises a difficult question: what is the purpose of the Security Council if it cannot intervene when the world needs it most?”
The Security Council, established in 1945, was created in a post-World War II context, with five permanent members holding veto power – the United States, Russia, China, the United Kingdom, and France.
While these nations were the dominant global powers at the time, the geopolitical landscape has shifted dramatically, with regions like Africa, Latin America, and South Asia becoming increasingly influential.
Yet, these regions remain underrepresented on the council, a fact that President Akufo-Addo described as “incomprehensible.”
“Africa, a continent of 1.4 billion people, has no permanent voice in shaping decisions that affect global peace and security,” he lamented. “The time for half measures is over. We need a Security Council that is fit for purpose in today’s world.”
“For years, I have championed the need to reform the Security Council as per the Ezulwini Consensus, it is heartening that the demand for reform has found acceptance by leaders of two of the Five Permanent Members—President Joe Biden of the United States of America, and President Emmanuel Macron of France. Hopefully, the others will soon follow suit.”
Beyond the immediate need for reform, President Akufo-Addo stressed the broader implications of an inclusive, equitable global governance system.
“The current structure, created in 1945, no longer reflects the realities of today’s geopolitical and economic landscape,” he said. “This lack of representation undermines the legitimacy of the Council’s decisions, and the use of veto power by a few permanent members often paralyses its ability to act effectively during crises.
BY TIMES REPORTER
