Ghana's President John Dramani Mahama has delivered his address at the 81st United Nations General Assembly, where some of his remarks appeared to contrast with positions expressed by US President Donald Trump in his own address two days earlier.

Although President Mahama did not directly mention Trump, some of his comments on the conflicts involving Iran, Israel and Gaza, as well as US sanctions on Cuba, differed from positions expressed by the US President during his September 22 address.

Here are some of the remarks made by Mahama that appeared to challenge positions expressed by Trump:

1. Threat to annihilate Iran

What Trump said:

US President Donald Trump warned during his UN address that he could “annihilate” the Islamic Republic of Iran if Tehran did not reach a deal with the United States.

Trump framed the choice as either allowing Iran to rebuild through a negotiated settlement or destroying the Islamic Republic.

“Will a deal be made with Iran that lets them rebuild and create a far greater country than it ever was before, maybe one of the greatest in the Middle East or even the world? Or do I annihilate the Islamic Republic and do it quickly, never giving them a chance to kill and destroy people and countries again?” he said.

He added: “Do I drive them into hell with no chance of survival and no hope of future greatness or generations?”

What Mahama said:

Mahama, while calling for all sides in the conflict to return to negotiations, said no country in the world deserved to be annihilated.

“The current Middle East crisis is having a deleterious effect on the world economy. We call for a return to the negotiating table. And let me add that no human civilisation deserves to be annihilated, certainly not a member state of the United Nations.

“I believe that dialogue can resolve even the most intractable of problems. Across every conflict, whether in Europe, the Middle East, or Africa, the standard must remain uniform: respect sovereign integrity, protect civilians, ensure unhindered humanitarian access, and hold perpetrators of war crimes accountable,” he said.

LIVESTREAMED: President Mahama addresses the 81st United Nations General Assembly

2. The “absolutely failed state” of Cuba

What Trump said:

President Donald Trump also criticised Cuba during his UN address, describing the country as an “absolutely failed state” and saying his administration was seeking a “fundamental change” in the situation on the island.

He also said US Secretary of State Marco Rubio was engaged in negotiations with Cuba and declared that “freedom will be coming to Cuba.”

What Mahama said:

President Mahama, in his address, criticised the decades-long US economic, commercial and financial embargo against Cuba and called for its immediate removal.

He said the sanctions were counterproductive and worsened the situation of ordinary citizens.

“Ghana reiterates its call for the immediate lifting of the decades-long economic, commercial, and financial embargo imposed on Cuba. The world must support Cuba’s new Economic and Social Programme.

“Measures that inflict collective economic hardship on ordinary citizens run counter to our shared commitment to human dignity and international law,” he said.

BAI/MA

'You Sent My Office a Letter, So I’ll Come in My Car' – Lawyer Escapes EOCO Arrest Attempt