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President Akufo-Addo calls for bold reforms at UN “Summit of the Future”
In a stirring address at the United Nations “Summit of the Future” held at the UN Headquarters in New York, Ghanaian President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo made a passionate call for global unity, urging world leaders to adopt multilateral solutions to tackle the pressing challenges of climate change, inequality, and global governance reform.
Speaking to an assembly of Heads of State, government officials, and delegates from around the world, President Akufo-Addo emphasized the urgency of collective action, stating that the future is no longer distant but is here and now, shaped by the decisions made in this crucial moment.
“Our theme, ‘Multilateral Solutions for a Better Tomorrow,’ reminds us that no nation, no matter how powerful, can solve today’s challenges alone,” the President remarked.
He highlighted the global nature of current crises, from the climate emergency to terrorism, noting that these problems transcend national boundaries and require global cooperation.
President Akufo-Addo’s speech strongly condemned the resurgence of “irrational isolationism and blind nationalism” in the aftermath of the COVID-19 pandemic. According to him, the pandemic had revealed the interconnectedness of all nations and demonstrated that unilateral approaches to global challenges are doomed to failure.
At the heart of the President’s address was the growing climate crisis, with a particular focus on Africa’s disproportionate suffering. Despite contributing the least to global carbon emissions, Africa continues to bear the brunt of the devastating effects of climate change, from severe flooding to increasing desertification. He issued a clarion call for “climate justice,” insisting that Africa should not continue to pay the price for a crisis it did not create.
“We are told to ‘adapt’ and ‘be resilient,’ but how does one adapt to famine, or build resilience when farmers cannot predict the seasons?” President Akufo-Addo questioned. He went on to demand fairness and equity in the global fight against climate change, stressing that Africa’s need is for justice, not charity.
The President also addressed the widening inequality between rich and poor nations, underscoring that over 700 million people worldwide still live in extreme poverty, deprived of basic human rights. “The pandemic exacerbated this inequality, pushing millions more into poverty, while the wealth of the richest soared. This is unsustainable, and it is immoral,” he stated. He called for a new global economic order, one that promotes inclusivity and ensures that no nation is left behind.
One of the key issues raised by President Akufo-Addo was the need for reform of the United Nations Security Council, which he described as an “outdated, post-Second World War relic.” He highlighted the glaring underrepresentation of Africa, home to 1.4 billion people, in the Council and called for the implementation of the Ezulwini Consensus, which outlines Africa’s position on UN reform.
“Africa’s voice must be heard in shaping the future of global peace and security,” the President stated firmly, adding that the current global governance structure is rooted in an unjust and unequal world order.
He called for bold reforms that would ensure every nation, regardless of its size or wealth, has an equal voice on the world stage.
In conclusion, President Akufo-Addo urged leaders to act with urgency and determination, noting that future generations would judge the current leadership by its actions.
“The world is watching. The future is watching. We cannot be the generation that stood by as the world burned, while inequality widened, and promises of justice went unfulfilled,” he added.
With a resounding call for bold, decisive action, President Akufo-Addo’s address encapsulated the spirit of the summit’s theme, “multilateral solutions for a better tomorrow—and challenged the international community to rise to the occasion.”
As the world continues to grapple with crises that demand global solutions, the President’s speech served as a reminder of the necessity of cooperation and the shared responsibility to secure a better future for all.
Troubled and anxious citizens in Damongo of the Savannah Region have expressed concerns about the number of young people, believed to be under the age of 18, involved in ‘shisha’ smoking in pubs and drinking spots within the township.
Eyewitnesses say the minors were seen patronising nightlife venues, where Shisha smoking happen in the open.
The situation has sparked renewed public concern over the enforcement of child protection laws and regulations governing the operations of entertainment centres in the municipality and country as a whole.
An eyewitness, who spoke to The Spectator on conditions of anonymity for security reasons, noted that the situation was becoming increasingly common.
“This is not a one-off incident. It is becoming very common, but residents like us cannot openly report or speak about it because our lives will be at risk,” he said.
Under Ghanaian law, minors were prohibited from patronising Shisha.
Public health experts have consistently warned that shisha use exposes users to harmful substances that can negatively affect brain development, respiratory health, and overall well-being, particularly among young people.
The residents believe the alleged incidents point to broader challenges relating to youth supervision, substance abuse, and weak enforcement of existing regulations and have called on municipal authorities, security agencies, and regulatory bodies to intensify monitoring of pubs and entertainment centres to ensure compliance with the law.
In an effort to address the menace, Mr Salisu Be-Awurbi, the Savannah Regional Minister, has led public education campaigns, engaged security agencies, and supported enforcement actions to address the rising use of illicit substances in the region.
Wura Kelly Seidu Boresah I, the Chief of Damongo, has also called on all stakeholders including parents, community leaders, institutions, and young people to actively support efforts to curb drug abuse, warning that the rising consumption of hard drugs poses a serious health threat to the future of the youth in the Savannah Region.
He also cautioned individuals involved in the sale and distribution of illicit drugs to immediately desist from the practice, stressing that offenders will face arrest and prosecution in accordance with the law.
From Geoffrey Buta, Damongo, Savannah Region
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Dr Theresa Baffour, an advocate for ending violence and Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of SAHM SAHW Foundation, has said that society plays a critical and pivotal role in breaking the cycle of domestic violence.
According to her, domestic violence is a major contributor of making women, who are mostly the victims, mentally derailed and unable to engage in economic activities.
She said this when the foundation called on the Ga Mantse, Nii Tackie Teiko Tsuru II, to solicit support for the initiative by the “Strong and Healthy Minds, Strong and Healthy Women” (SAHM SAHW) to combat domestic violence within the Ga State.
The visit was occasioned by the fact that domestic violence cases have become quite prevalent in the Ga communities and is retarding growth.
According to her, the canker was an impediment to national development because the victims were usually tortured and would have to go through series of therapies to return to the right state of mind.
Dr Baffour mentioned that Gender-Based Violence (GBV) places a mental toll on women, and was, therefore, important to break the cycle through comprehensive mental health support, crisis intervention and empowerment programmes in communities with high rates of GBV.
This intervention, she underscored, would help in empowering the denigrated victim of domestic violence to soundly heal, build and thrive.
Dr Baffour added that the initiative would provide holistic, trauma-informed mental health care and advocacy for young women affected by domestic violence.
According to her, the above statement would create safe spaces for healing and equipping them with entrepreneurial skills for renewed hope and empowered life.
The Ga Mantse pledged his support for the laudable initiative to combat domestic violence and also acknowledged the need to address it in the Ga State.
Further endorsement came from Justice Julia Naa-Yarley Adjei Amoah, Chief of Staff at the Office of the Ga Mantse, as she commended the team of SAHM SAHW Foundation for taking a bold step to end the canker in the Greater Accra.
She added that it was a step in the right direction to save vulnerable women from torture, stress and emotional abuse.
By Alfred Nii Arday Ankrah
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