The General Assembly of the United Nations has elected Ghana to serve a two-year term on the United Nations Security Council for the period January 2022 to December 2023.
Ghana secured 185 votes out of 190 votes cast. With this, Ghana secured the highest votes compared to the 4 other countries that were elected. The Minister for Foreign Affairs and Regional Integration, Shirley Ayorkor Botchwey cast Ghana’s vote.
Ghana congratulated Brazil, the United Arab Emirates, Albania and Gabon for their respective successful elections and looked forward to working closely with all the new members of the Council when her tenure commences in January 2022.
The last time the nation had a seat at the United Nations Security Council was in 2006-2007.
It means the nation has clinched one of the two seats reserved for Africa by the world body.
“The endorsement of the African Union and the ECOWAS is deeply appreciated. With situations in Africa dominating the agenda of the Security Council, we vow to work assiduously to assist in addressing the conflicts on the continent and sustain the peace the people of Africa need. As is well known, issues on Africa constitute 70 percent of the Security Council’s agenda” a statement from the ministry said.
The statement added that: “Ghana thanks all other Member States for their confidence in Ghana’s candidacy. The broad support for Ghana confirms the trust Member States have in our membership of the Council and Ghana’s capacity to help address the challenges confronting our world today, including violent extremism, terrorism, malicious cyber threats, illicit trafficking of arms, climate change, etc.”
The statement further noted that the effective leadership of Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo, provides synergy for membership of the Security Council, particularly in addressing the conflict situations in some parts of the West Africa region and the Sahel.
Ghana will bring to bear on the work of the Council her experience in conflict mediation, prevention and reconstruction, the statement said.
Ghana will also use her tenure on the Security Council to seek for a stronger and deeper collaboration and cooperation between the United Nations and regional bodies in a manner that enhances complementarity and ensures effectiveness of coordinated action.
