President John Dramani Mahama has renewed Ghana’s advocacy for the United Nations reform to grant Africa permanent representation on the UN Security Council.  

He reiterated that it was a matter of global justice to rectify the continent’s historical exclusion from the Council’s decision-making process.  

The President made the call in his presentation delivered at the Chatham House in London, during which he shared Ghana’s perspective on: “Navigating a Changing Global Order: Ghana’s Strategic Priorities”.  

He said Ghana believed that the institutions of global governance must evolve to reflect comprehensive political realities rather than power structures of 1945.   

The President said the international system could not sustainably preserve its legitimacy, while significant portions of humanity remained structurally underrepresented in global position-making.  

He said Africa, with 54 member states at the United Nations and a population projected to constitute nearly one quarter of humanity by 2050, continues to be excluded from permanent representation on the United Nations Security Council.   

“This is not nearly a procedural anomaly; it is a historical injustice. And a structural imbalance that undermines the credibility of the multilateral system itself.”  

President Mahama said Ghana continued to support comprehensive reform of the United Nations system, including equitable representation for Africa on the Security Council.   

He said the post-1945 international order despite its imperfections and inequalities established important norms and institutions that helped provide relative global stability.  

He noted that the Charter of the United Nations advanced principles intended to regulate relations among states, sovereign equality, territorial integrity, peaceful settlement of disputes, non-interference, and the collective pursuit of peace and development.   

He said these principles laid the normative foundations upon which many formerly colonised nations, including Ghana secured their independence and asserted their sovereignty.  

“Today, however, many of these norms are on the street. We increasingly witness a selective application of international law, the erosion of multilateral consensus, and the growing tendency for strategic competition to take precedence over collective responsibility,” the President said.  

He noted that conflict across regions continued to test the credibility of the international system, exposing the fragility of the institutions designed to uphold peace and stability, while climate financing commitments remained unmet, and development assistance contracting across many regions.  

President Mahama said the world was becoming increasingly technologically interconnected and yet politically fragmented.   

He said for countries in the Global South, the central question was no longer whether the international order was changing.  

“The question is how to navigate this transition with resilience, strategic clarity, and sovereign confidence.”  

The President said for Ghana, this movement demanded neither retreat or passivity, and that it demanded purposeful engagement.  

He said Ghana’s response to this changing global environment was anchored in the four broad strategic priorities.  

These include reforming global governance, leading African integration, building balanced and mutually beneficial partnerships and strengthening sovereign agency over a national development trajectory.   

Ghana and the United Kingdom have signed a landmark UK-Ghana Growth Partnership agreement during the Ghana-UK Investment Summit in London, as a roadmap for 2026–2028.   

It aims to deliver tangible benefits for Ghanaians and businesses operating in Ghana.  

President John Dramani Mahama and the UK Deputy Prime Minister David Lammy witnessed the signing of the partnership.  

Mrs Sabah Zita Benson, Ghana’s High Commissioner to the United Kingdom and Ireland and Dr Christian Rogg, the UK High Commissioner to Ghana, signed for their respective countries.  

President John Dramani Mahama said the deals worth up to £215 million stood at the centre of their collaboration with the UK.   

“By prioritising private-sector growth, infrastructure, and skills development for our youth, we aim to ensure they can compete globally,” he said.  

The President said a groundbreaking £101 million UK-backed initiative, part of the partnership, would create the Gulf of Guinea’s very first commercial-scale ship repair and dry-docking facility.   

That he noted would generate up to 430 direct jobs, including 30 per cent reserved for women, the Takoradi Floating Dock Project would propel Ghana to the forefront of regional maritime hubs.  

He said the Partnership was unlocking millions in climate-aligned infrastructure, propelling an £85 million reforestation fund and an exciting £9 million investment dedicated to forest restoration in the Oti Region.   

The President said the transformative projects would generate local jobs and safeguard their environment.  

He said a £6 million partnership would support the implementation of the Ghana AI Strategy and energise science and technology collaboration across their universities.  

President Mahama said in the health sector, their systems would be transformed by a £4 million partnership for specialist clinical engineering training.   

He disclosed that a new transnational education guideline would also be launched to open up outstanding opportunities for Ghanaian students to access world-class training.  

President John Dramani Mahama says Ghana’s diplomatic relations with South Africa remain strong despite recent xenophobic attacks that have forced the evacuation of some Ghanaian nationals.  

Speaking at Chatham House, a leading policy institute in London, during his five-day official visit to the United Kingdom, President Mahama described the attacks as unfortunate and expressed disappointment over the growing hostility towards foreign African nationals.  

“We do not have any breach in our diplomatic relations. What happened was that it’s not the first time there have been these xenophobic attacks in South Africa,” he said in response to a question on Ghana-South Africa relations.  

“They say we shouldn’t call it xenophobia. I don’t know what else or the name you can give it. But there have been these surges in anti-foreign attacks.”  

The President said previous incidents had mainly affected nationals from neighbouring countries such as Mozambique, Malawi, Zimbabwe and Nigeria, but the latest attacks had increasingly targeted Ghanaians.  

“Lately, Ghanaians have gotten involved. This is the first time we’ve really had Ghanaians getting a part of the direction of attacks,” he said.  

President Mahama explained that worsening security conditions and attacks on foreign-owned businesses created circumstances that compelled the Government to organise voluntary evacuations for citizens who felt unsafe.  

He said many Ghanaians living in South Africa worked as skilled professionals and entrepreneurs, particularly in barbering, hairdressing, nail care, beauty services and other small businesses that contributed to local economic activity.  

According to him, shops belonging to foreigners were locked during the attacks, while many migrants feared moving freely because they could be identified and assaulted.  

The situation worsened with reports of raids on health facilities.  

“And if you were not South African, you were asked to leave the hospital. Even if you were ill, it created a very toxic atmosphere,” he said.  

President Mahama said many displaced Ghanaians from Durban and other communities sought refuge at Ghana’s High Commission in Pretoria.  

“At this point we had nearly 200 of our citizens in our embassy,” he said.  

The President noted that the Government decided to evacuate citizens after concerns grew over their safety and the apparent inability to contain the attacks quickly.  

“It didn’t look like the South African authorities were doing anything to try to quell what was happening and also to provide protection to those who had been displaced,” he said.  

“And so we did the first evacuation flight. We’re going to do two more to take those who want to leave. It is voluntary. We asked, do you want to stay or you want to leave? And many of them say they feel threatened. And so they want to leave.”  

President Mahama said the incidents underscored the need for African countries to deepen cooperation and address obstacles to continental integration.  

He emphasised that migration remained an important driver of development and that African economies benefited significantly from the movement of people, skills and investments across borders.  

“I think it’s unfortunate what is happening in South Africa. We need to drill down to what causes these flare-ups in terms of xenophobia,” he said.  

President Mahama said African countries must empathise with South Africa and support efforts to address the underlying economic and social conditions that fuel periodic outbreaks of anti-foreign sentiment.   

He noted that reducing unemployment and tackling inequalities inherited from the apartheid era were critical to finding a lasting solution to the problem.  

“And so all of us must empathize with South Africa or must sympathize with South Africa,” he said.   

“And we must help South Africa to be able to drill down and find out what it can do to reduce unemployment rates amongst the black populations.”  

The President suggested that some of the tensions might stem from structural challenges dating back to the apartheid era, including persistent unemployment among sections of the black population.  

He called on African leaders and policymakers to help address the root causes of the violence and challenge perceptions that migrants were responsible for economic hardships.  

“After the last fellow African leaves, is it going to change unemployment among blacks in South Africa?” he asked.  

“After the last shop has been closed and everybody has left, is it going to change unemployment in South Africa?”  

President Mahama reiterated that migration benefited both host countries and migrants, citing the contributions of Ghanaian professionals abroad and other African nationals working in Ghana.  

He noted that Ghanaian doctors, nurses, academics, entrepreneurs and skilled workers had made valuable contributions to economies across the continent, including South Africa, just as South Africans, Nigerians and Sudanese continued to contribute to Ghana’s development.  

“And everybody brings some advantage. They either bring their knowledge or they bring investments,” he said.  

“And I think we should get over this fear of foreigners coming into our countries.”  

Mrs Sabah Zita Benson, Ghana’s High Commissioner to the United Kingdom  and Ireland, (UK) said Ghana-UK economic cooperation has a bright future, with both countries positioned to build a partnership that promotes prosperity, innovation, and sustainable growth for future generations. 

Speaking at the opening of the Ghana-UK Investment Summit 2026 in London, Mrs Benson reaffirmed the Ghana High Commission’s commitment to serving as a bridge between investors and opportunities in Ghana. 

“We stand ready to facilitate engagements, provide information, and support businesses seeking to establish or expand their presence in our country,” she stated. 

The two-day Ghana-UK Investment Summit, opened by President John Dramani Mahama, is being organized by the Ghana High Commission in the United Kingdom in collaboration with Invest Africa and the UK-Ghana Chamber of Commerce. 

The summit brought together a distinguished gathering of business leaders, institutional investors, policymakers, and development partners. 

Mrs Benson encouraged participants to engage openly and explore the vast opportunities available. She also expressed gratitude for their interest in Ghana as a destination for investment, partnership, and long-term business growth. 

“This gathering reflects our shared belief that the relationship between Ghana and the United Kingdom should continue to evolve into a modern economic partnership built on mutual prosperity, innovation, sustainability, and shared growth,” she said. 

“We have convened this summit to bring together government leaders, investors, financiers, entrepreneurs, and business executives to explore how we can best work together to unlock new opportunities, deepen commercial ties, and create lasting value for our two countries.” 

Mrs Benson noted that at a time when the global economy is undergoing profound change, Ghana presents significant opportunities for investors seeking a stable, democratic, and forward-looking partner in Africa. 

She said Ghana is entering a new phase of economic transformation and that, under the leadership of President John Dramani Mahama, the government is pursuing an ambitious agenda aimed at restoring economic stability, accelerating industrialization, creating jobs, and positioning Ghana as a competitive hub for investment, manufacturing, logistics, and services in Africa. 

The High Commissioner explained that central to this vision is the development of a 24-hour economy, designed to increase productivity, enhance exports, create employment opportunities, maximize the use of infrastructure, and attract investment into value-added industries through a well-structured day-and-night economy. 

“Our ambition is not only to attract capital; we seek genuine partnerships across the various sectors of our economy that support industrialization, job creation, skills development, technology transfer, infrastructure development, and sustainable economic transformation,” Mrs Benson said. 

“We want investors to see Ghana as a trusted market, a long-term sustainable partner, and a gateway to the wider African market.” 

She emphasized that Ghana offers a compelling investment proposition, combining political stability, a strong democratic tradition, a strategic geographic location, abundant natural resources, a youthful and talented workforce, and preferential access to a continental market of more than 1.4 billion people through the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA). 

According to her, these advantages position Ghana as a gateway to Africa’s emerging opportunities. 

Mrs Benson expressed sincere appreciation to all the companies, institutions, and individuals represented at the summit, noting that their presence demonstrates confidence in Ghana’s future and recognition of the opportunities the country offers. 

“We are very grateful for your willingness to engage with us, explore new possibilities, and contribute to Ghana’s development journey,” she said. 

She added that over the two days, participants would hear directly from policymakers, industry leaders, and investors about opportunities across priority sectors, including infrastructure, energy, mining, agribusiness, manufacturing, financial services, technology, healthcare, and tourism. 

The summit, she said, would also provide opportunities for meaningful engagement, enabling participants to explore partnerships and identify projects capable of delivering mutual benefits for both Ghanaian and British businesses. 

Mrs Benson expressed confidence that the summit would strengthen relationships that would continue long after the event concludes. 

“The true measure of success will not be the conversations we have here, but the collaborations we establish, the investments we facilitate, and the shared prosperity we create together in the years ahead,” she said. 

In line with President Mahama’s vision of promoting Ghanaian-owned businesses abroad, she noted that participants would also visit both public and private businesses during the summit. 

She further expressed gratitude to the Government and people of the United Kingdom for their longstanding friendship and business partnership with Ghana. 

“A lot has been achieved over the decades, and together we will achieve even more,” she said. 

In his remarks, Dr Christian Rogg, the British High Commissioner to Ghana, announced that the UK-backed Private Infrastructure Development Group (PIDG) is making its largest investment to date—a £101 million ship repair and dry-docking facility at Takoradi Port in Ghana. 

According to Dr Rogg, the project is expected to create up to 430 jobs, 30 percent of which will be reserved for women, while strengthening Ghana’s position as a regional maritime and logistics hub. 

He also pledged the UK Government’s full support for Ghana’s socio-economic development.