This Chatham House meeting is chaired Bronwen Maddox. Featured is HE John Dramani Mahama, President, Republic of Ghana.
President John Mahama has been trying to bring together global order with regard to security in West Africa. Institutions like Chatham House are becoming more important in the global order in particular in a period of global uncertainty.
History reminds us that no global order is permanent. London holds a unique place in the history. The British Empire used to affect his country, Ghana. How nations respond to the change of pace is important. Relative global stability has been held since 1945. This has been helped by the United Nations. Many formerly colonised nations including Ghana were able to assert their independence. Climate commitments remain unmet. THe World is becoming increasingly technologically connected but politically fragmented. For Ghana the moment requires a positive engagement.
Global governance must reflect global realities,not just the post-1945 set up. By 2015 a quarter of humanity wiill be the population of Africa. Ghana supports comprehensive reform of the United Nations system, with a permanent security council seat for Africa.
Ghana created teh Accra reset inititative. It encompasses many elements including technology and a better architecture of partnership. African integration is a necessity. The African Continental Free Trade area is centered on Accra. Ghana remains committeed to regional economic integration. It is a strategic imperative. The foreign policy approach is rooted in strategic pragmatism.
The preservation of global stability cannot rely solely on the major powers. Ghana’s democratic system remains one of its finest assets. Democracy is not merely a politiclal ideal it is for them also an economic asset. Nations that produce, innovate, industrialize and export will be at the top. Ghana wants its natur wealth turns into permanent value and htat they aren’t just an extraction zone.
The transatlantic slave trade remains one of the biggest crimes against humanity. Moral accountability must be part of any conversation about multilateralism. Justice must be principled and inclusive.
Mulitlateralsim despite its imperfections remains essential for humanity’s future.
He doesn’t believe that the Africa project is dead. We must continue to work at it.
President John Mahama gave a stirring speech and it is clear that his country is on the rise and spearheading the Pan-African movement internationally.
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