Ghana President Mahama outlines AU chairmanship goals at UN

Addressing the United Nations General Assembly, President John Mahama outlined a vision for Ghana’s upcoming African Union chairmanship in January 2027, focusing on economic sovereignty and global human rights.

Mahama emphasized that Africa must transition from a model of raw mineral extraction to one of industrial prosperity. He stated that the continent must process its own minerals, such as cobalt, lithium, and gold, to build local industries and create jobs, rather than allowing wealth to be exported without local benefit. He intends to use the chairmanship to champion continental integration, accelerate the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA), and ensure Africa maintains a unified voice on the global stage.

On the subject of global security and rights, Mahama argued that national freedom is inseparable from the freedom of all humanity. Drawing on the legacy of Kwame Nkrumah, he called for the protection of vulnerable populations, including marginalized communities and small island states threatened by rising sea levels. He asserted that global peace is unsustainable without justice and shared prosperity.