NEW YORK – In a powerful address at the 80th Session of the United Nations General Assembly, President of Ghana, John Dramani Mahama, declared that the future of the world is African, while also issuing a strong call for an end to what he described as “crimes” in Gaza. Speaking on Thursday, September 25, Mahama urged the global community to recognize Africa’s growing importance in global development and transformation.
“According to this organisation’s own projections, by the year 2050, more than 25% of the world’s population is expected to come from the African continent. Additionally, by 2050, one third of all young people, aged 15 to 24, will be residing on the African continent,” he said. The President stressed that this rising population, particularly its youthful demographic, signifies that Africa will drive global innovation, growth, and progress. “So, you see, the future is African,” Mahama declared, before adding pointedly, “Allow me to say this once again, a little louder for the people in the back. The future is African!”
President Mahama went further, noting that Africa is “a catalyst for human potential and development, as well as for economic reform and ecological stability. Africa is a catalyst for systemic change.” He addressed potential discomfort with this reality, stating, “If this reality—which is fact-based and straightforward—seems provocative or unsettling, perhaps it’s because you’re viewing it through the lens of centuries of racism, colonialism, imperialism, and the resulting implicit bias.”
The President then pivoted to the conflict in the Middle East, calling for an end to the crimes being committed against Palestinians in Gaza. Mahama criticized the reluctance of the global body to confront the crisis directly. “For nearly two years, and for the fear of reprisal, we here in this General Assembly have been playing hide-and-seek with language to find the right words to help us avoid or excuse what we all know is taking place there. But here’s the thing, it doesn’t matter what you call it: if it looks like a duck, swims like a duck, and quacks like a duck, well then… It must be a duck. The crimes in Gaza must stop,” he declared.
Reaffirming Ghana’s support for a two-state solution, Mahama rejected claims that it would amount to rewarding Hamas, arguing it offered the best chance for justice and relief for civilians. He also condemned the decision to deny visas to Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas and his delegation, calling it a “bad precedent” and a threat to the integrity of the UN. Mahama warned that while other global challenges exist, including rising nationalism and economic instability, Gaza remains a moral test for the world’s leaders.
Ruth Abla ADJORLOLO
