President John Dramani Mahama has delivered a powerful address at the 80th Session of the United Nations General Assembly on Thursday, September 25, 2025, stressing the urgent need for global unity, protection of multilateral institutions, and justice for conflict-ridden regions, particularly Palestine and Sudan.
Mahama reflected on the enduring friendship between Cuba and Africa, describing Cuba as “a faithful friend of Africa.”
He then highlighted the symbolic importance of the UN, likening it to a traditional communal space that holds societies together.
“In every old city or village, you’ll find a town square, or a courtyard, or a plaza that once served as a gathering space for the citizens of the community and their leaders,” he said.
“Madam President, in many ways, the United Nations is the proverbial town square of our modern global village. And it has never been more critical for us to protect this one space that brings and holds the world nations together as a community.”
Mahama warned that technological advances, while offering the illusion of connectivity, were in reality fostering division.
“The Internet, social media platforms, and artificial intelligence offer us the illusion of connectivity. When, in fact, what they do is reinforce isolation by using algorithms that ensure that we do not receive new ideas and perspectives, but rather more of the same content,” he cautioned.
Turning to pressing global issues, Mahama criticized the rise of nationalism, economic instability, and aggression against sovereign nations, comparing today’s climate to the conditions that led to the League of Nations’ collapse.
He expressed deep concern about the denial of visas to Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas and his delegation, calling it “a bad precedent” that undermines the very values of the UN.
“Ghana recognised the State of Palestine in 1988 and supported a two-state solution to the conflict since then,” Mahama noted.
“Contrary to the claims of some, a two-state solution would not be a reward for Hamas. It would rather be a retreat for the hundreds of thousands of innocent women and children … who are facing collective punishment and forced starvation for no reason other than the fact that they are Palestinian.”
In one of the most striking moments of his speech, Mahama condemned the ongoing violence in Gaza, using a vivid metaphor to call out the global community’s reluctance to name the atrocities.
“For nearly two years and for the fear of reprisals, we here in this General Assembly have been playing hide-and-seek with language …
“But here is the thing. It doesn’t matter what you call it. If it looks like a duck, it swims like a duck, and quacks like a duck, well, then it must be a duck. The crimes in Gaza must stop. The crimes in Gaza must stop.”
Mahama also drew attention to Sudan, describing it as “the world’s largest humanitarian crisis,” where 12 million people have been forced to flee their homes. He urged the international community not to turn a blind eye to the suffering there.
