Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo, delivered a speech at the United Nations General Assembly on Wednesday, where he accused global powers of applying double standards in their dealings and prioritizing their own interests over international peace and inclusive development.
In his address, President Akufo-Addo criticized world leaders at the UN for preaching democracy, fairness, and justice globally while practicing the opposite within the organization. He noted that powerful nations often prioritize their parochial interests over those of humanity.
As a non-permanent member of the UN Security Council, Ghana has witnessed a consistent lack of commitment by the permanent members (the United States, China, Russia, the United Kingdom, and France) to work together for the common good. President Akufo-Addo expressed his concerns about this situation, stating that it undermines the credibility of the United Nations and its ability to fulfill its mandate of ensuring an orderly world.
The UN is facing challenges in promoting its ideals and mechanisms, exacerbated by growing geopolitical tensions and global issues such as the Covid-19 pandemic and the conflict in Ukraine.
UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres also stressed the importance of international cooperation in his opening speech at the General Assembly and called on world leaders to unite in addressing the world’s pressing issues.
President Akufo-Addo further criticized world leaders for disregarding calls for urgent reforms in multilateral institutions, including the UN Security Council and the Bretton Woods institutions, the International Monetary Fund (IMF) and the World Bank. He argued that the reluctance of major powers to agree on reforms that reflect present realities has undermined the credibility of the United Nations and some of its organs, particularly the Security Council.
He called attention to the Security Council’s failure to adequately represent many regions of the world and highlighted the need to correct the long-standing injustice in its structure and composition, particularly regarding the nations of Africa.
The President warned that the world cannot rebuild trust when the United Nations is seen as perpetuating an unfair world order reinforced by an inequitable and dysfunctional global financial architecture.
Despite expressions of support for reform by the United States, China, the European Union, and other global powers, concrete actions to implement these reforms have been lacking. President Akufo-Addo’s speech underscores the need for meaningful changes in international institutions to address pressing global challenges and promote fairness and justice on the world stage.
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