President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo has expressed support for UN Secretary-General António Guterres’ criticism of the Security Council’s structure.
Speaking at the CFR-Ghana lecture series, the President emphasized the need for reform, citing fairness, legitimacy, and effectiveness in maintaining global peace and order.
“It is not just a matter of fairness, but also a necessity for the legitimacy and effectiveness of the UN in maintaining global peace and order,” President Akufo-Addo noted.
The President commended Guterres for joining US President Joe Biden and French President Emmanuel Macron in calling for reform.
“I am happy to note that Antonio Guterres, the far-sighted Secretary-General of the UN, has in recent days added a considerable weight of his voice to those of the US President Joe Biden and French President Emmanuel Macron in support of this goal,” he said.
Akufo-Addo also highlighted the importance of regional stability, citing the impact of instability on development and investment.
“These paints an unattractive picture of instability and uncertainty that obviously have an adverse impact on the development investment aspirations of the region,” he noted.
He emphasized Ghana’s role in stabilizing the region and restoring democracy in the ECOWAS space.
“Ghana, an oasis of democracy and stability in this troubled region, has an important role to play in its own self-interest, not only in stabilising the region, but also contributing to the process of restoring democracy in the entire ECOWAS space.”
The President expressed support for a regional security force, noting its potential to deter the spread of insurgency.
“I have little doubt that the existence of the force will offer appreciable deterrence to the spread of insurgency. It is better late than never,” he concluded.
Guterres’ call for reform is his second in less than a year, following his proposal to modernize multilateral institutions at the 78th UN General Assembly.
He emphasized that the Council’s composition reflected the balance of power at the end of World War Two and had failed to keep pace with a changing world.
