Home - From Nkrumah to Mahama: How Ghanaian presidents have addressed UN General Assembly 25 times

For more than six decades, Ghanaian presidents have taken the country's voice to the floor of the United Nations General Assembly, beginning with the historic appearance of Ghana's first President, Osagyefo Dr Kwame Nkrumah, in 1960.

Ghana's first presidential address was on September 23, 1960, when Dr Nkrumah addressed the 15th Session of the General Assembly. Ghana had joined the United Nations on March 8, 1957, shortly after gaining independence.

Following Dr Kwame Nkrumah's address on the floor at the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA), several Ghanaian presidents have also taken the podium to deliver wonderful and great speeches.

However, after Dr Kwame Nkrumah's speech, there was a long gap before another Ghanaian president personally took the podium for the General Debate.

This article will list the number of times Ghanaian presidents over the last 60 years have delivered a speech at the UNGA:

Nkrumah's historic appearance

Dr Kwame Nkrumah addressed the UN General Assembly once, on September 23, 1960.

His appearance came at a significant period in Ghana's history and marked the country's early engagement with the international body as an independent nation.

After Dr Kwame Nkrumah's first speech, it took 38 years before another Ghanaian president personally addressed the General Assembly's General Debate.

The late Rawlings returns Ghana to the UN podium

Former President Jerry John Rawlings became the next Ghanaian president to address the General Assembly when he spoke on September 22, 1998, during the 53rd Session.

UN records confirm that Rawlings addressed the Assembly during the session, where he spoke on issues including global poverty, development, women's rights and the role of the United Nations.

His appearance ended the long gap following Nkrumah's 1960 address.

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Kufuor's six appearances

After the late Jerry John Rawlings' speech in 1998, former President John Agyekum Kufuor became the third president of Ghana to address the General Assembly six times during his presidency.

Former President Kufuor's six appearances represented a significant increase in the frequency with which Ghana's president personally delivered the country's statement at the UN.

His appearances were:

September 13, 2002 – 57th session
September 24, 2003 – 58th session
September 17, 2005 – 60th session
September 19, 2006 – 61st session
September 25, 2007 – 62nd session
September 24, 2008 – 63rd session

The late John Evan Atta Mills

Before his sudden demise, the late President John Evans Atta Mills addressed the General Assembly twice during his presidency.

His first appearance was on September 24, 2009, during the 64th Session, followed by another address on September 23, 2011, during the 66th Session.

Mahama's first six appearances

President John Dramani Mahama, during his first presidency, addressed the UN General Assembly six times.

During the 80th Session, he called for reforms to the United Nations and greater representation for Africa on the UN Security Council.

Also, his 2025 speech was when he officially came into office for his second tenure.

His appearances were:

September 26, 2012 – 67th session
September 26, 2013 – 68th session
September 25, 2014 – 69th session
September 30, 2015 – 70th session
September 21, 2016 – 71st session
September 25, 2025 – 80th session

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Akufo-Addo's eight appearances

Former President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo recorded eight personal appearances at the General Assembly, the highest number among Ghana's presidents based on the record provided.

Former President Akufo-Addo's eight appearances were spread across his two terms as President.

His appearances were:

September 21, 2017 – 72nd Session
September 26, 2018 – 73rd Session
September 25, 2019 – 74th Session
September 21, 2020 – 75th Session
September 22, 2021 – 76th Session
September 21, 2022 – 77th Session
September 20, 2023 – 78th Session
September 25, 2024 – 79th Session

Mahama's 25th presidential appearance

President Mahama's participation in the 81st Session in 2026 adds another appearance to Ghana's presidential record at the General Assembly.

President John Dramani Mahama, on September 24, 2026, delivered another bold and inspiring speech at the 81st Session of the United Nations General Assembly, which marks another milestone in that history, taking the number of times Ghana's sitting presidents have personally addressed the General Debate to 25.

JHM/EB