Ghana assumes UN security Presidency, prioritizes terrorism

Ghana on Tuesday assumed the Presidency of the United Nations Security Council for November as debates on violent extremism and terrorism in Africa topped its agenda.

The Permanent Representative of Ghana to the United Nations in New York, Amb. Harold Agyeman, said this while briefing correspondents at the UN headquarters on the programme of work and Ghana’s priorities during the month.

The Security Council, which is composed of 15 Member States, is the organ of the UN authorised by the Charter with primary responsibility for the maintenance of international peace and security.

Ghana shall preside over the meetings of the Council (adoptions, debates, and consultations) and, under its authority, shall represent the Security Council in its capacity as an organ of the United Nations within this month.

Agyeman said the two major challenges in Africa were violent extremism and terrorism, noting that most of the programmes would focus on the debates on addressing the challenges.

He said the debates would focus on addressing those challenges in line with its priority for leadership of the Security Council, which is enhancing global peace and security for sustainable and inclusive development.

“We will organise two debates on peace and security in Africa. First, we will have a debate on Thursday on “Peace building and Sustaining Peace: Integrating effective resilience for sustainable peace.’’

“On November 10, we will have another debate on ‘Threats to International Peace and Security: Counter-terrorism in Africa: An imperative for Peace and Development’,’’ he said.

The envoy said the event would be convened under the agenda on Sustainable Peace and it would be chaired by the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Regional Integration of the Republic of Ghana, Madam Shirley Botchwey.

“The second event will also take place under the agenda on International Peace and Security, and it will be chaired by the President of the Republic of Ghana, Nana Addo Akufo-Addo.

“This debate would seek to focus attention on how counterterrorism measures in Africa can best be supported by the work of the Security Council and how the council itself can support such a force,’’ he said.

He said the permanent representatives of the council would also be having a breakfast meeting with some elders to discuss how best the council would be supported to address his mandate.

On the programme of event for the month, the Security Council is expected to receive briefing and consultations on Peace and Security in Africa (Piracy Gulf of Guinea), and Peace and Security in Africa (G5 Sahel), among others.

The General Assembly of the UN, in June 2021, elected Ghana to serve a two-year term on the Security Council from January 2022 to December 2023.

The agenda of Ghana is to enhance global peace and security for sustainable and inclusive development, particularly in Africa.

It was the fourth time Ghana was elected to serve on the Security Council and seventh time it would serve as President of the Security Council.

GOGAN TV