As the 81st United Nations General Assembly high-level meeting of Heads of State starts on September 22, President John Dramani Mahama is rallying support from the open society foundations at a time when the international environments are facing severe disruption as countries in the Global South contend with mounting debt pressures.
At a Presidential roundtable in New York, the President made a strong case that despite the turmoil and challenges, opportunities for innovation and reform remain.
The United Nations is facing an estimated 130 conflicts around the globe alongside a funding crisis that places it on the cusp of imminent financial collapse.
This year’s debate also takes place under the shadow of the selection of a new Secretary-General for the Assembly, which is expected to happen at the end of the year. The clear frontrunner is yet to emerge.
The Trump administration has already applied strong financial stress on the UN.
President Mahama is making a second appearance at the UN after returning to power, where he championed a self-financing strategy by Africans in the wake of the withdrawal by the US.
The UN’s 81st meeting presents an opportunity for Ghana’s Head of State to press home the demand for reparatory justice.
President Mahama began by drumming up support from the Open Society Foundations on possible collaborations for accelerated growth.
“We need to provide clearer priorities, coordinate ourselves better and make it easier for our partners to understand where they can come and where they want to contribute. Foundations can also look for sensible areas of collaboration including evidence, reporting, co-financing or convening where doing so improves delivery without compromising their independence,” President Maham said.
The President will also host the Accra Reset event and hold bilateral talks ahead of his official speech at the General Assembly on Thursday.
