We Need a Fit for Purpose UN Security Council- Akufo-Addo
President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo has criticized the current make-up of the United Nations (UN) Security Council, calling for an up-to-date, effective and solution-oriented one.
In an address at the 78th session of the UN General Assembly in New York on September 25, 2024, he indicated that the Council no longer aligns with the needs of the dynamic world and thereby not fit for purpose.
“Africa, a continent of 1.4 billion people, has no permanent voice in shaping decisions that affect global peace and security. The time for half measures is over. We need a Security Council that is fit for purpose in today’s world.”
“The current structure, created in 1945, no longer reflects the realities of today’s geopolitical and economic landscape. This lack of representation undermines the legitimacy of the Council’s decisions, and the use of veto power by a few permanent members often paralyzes its ability to act effectively during crises.”
Additionally, the President of Ghana pointed to the Security Council’s lacklustre response to several ongoing global crises, including the Russian invasion of Ukraine and the war in Gaza.
“The structure of the [UN Security] Council reflects a world that no longer exists and its failure to act in times of crisis raises a difficult question: what is the purpose of the Security Council if it cannot intervene when the world needs it most?… Millions of lives have been uprooted, thousands have lost their lives, and yet, the Security Council has struggled to respond decisively. What is the purpose of the Security Council if it cannot intervene when the world needs it most?”
He called for a Council with permanent African representatives, more inclusive, democratic, and responsive to the complex challenges of today.
The UN Security Council, established in 1945, was created after World War II with five permanent members holding veto power including the United States, Russia, China, the United Kingdom, and France.
Source: opemsuo.com/Hajara Fuseini
