President John Dramani Mahama has renewed Ghana’s call for permanent African representation on the United Nations Security Council, describing the continent’s continued exclusion from the body as unacceptable.

Addressing the 81st Session of the United Nations General Assembly in New York on Thursday, September 24, 2026, Mahama said Africa’s population and growing influence in global affairs could no longer be overlooked in discussions on reforming the Security Council.

He noted that Africa is home to about 1.5 billion people, representing more than 18 per cent of the world’s population, while also constituting the largest regional voting bloc in the UN General Assembly.

“Africa is home to 1.5 billion people, over 18 per cent of humanity, and constitutes the largest regional voting bloc in this General Assembly. Yet, Africa remains without a single permanent seat on the United Nations Security Council. This is fundamentally unacceptable in the 21st century,” he indicated.

Mahama called for Africa to be given permanent representation on the Security Council with the full rights and responsibilities attached to such membership, including veto powers.

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He argued that the current composition of the Security Council reflected geopolitical realities that existed after the Second World War and no longer adequately represented the contemporary international system.

“We cannot credibly champion the sovereign equality of nations while preserving a global governance structure designed for the post-war geopolitical realities,” he said.

He further stressed that reforming the Security Council should not be regarded as a concession to Africa but as a necessary step towards restoring confidence in the multilateral system.

“Security Council reform is not a favour to Africa; it is an imperative for the legitimacy, credibility, and survival of the United Nations,” he noted.

MRA/BAI

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