Ghanaian President John Dramani Mahama delivered a compelling message at the 80th Session of the United Nations General Assembly in New York, asserting Africa’s rising influence in global affairs and boldly declaring, "The future is African."
Speaking to world leaders, Mahama reflected on Africa’s historically limited role in shaping global governance structures like the United Nations and the League of Nations. He noted that only four African countries — Egypt, Ethiopia, Liberia, and South Africa — were among the 51 founding members of the UN in 1945. Likewise, only three African nations initially participated in the League of Nations, with Egypt joining later in 1937.
"Africa’s role in the founding of these institutions was minimal and relatively insignificant," Mahama stated, linking this exclusion to the colonial legacy that dominated the continent’s history.
He reminded the Assembly of the 1884–1885 Berlin Conference, where 14 colonial powers divided Africa among themselves without African representation. This, he argued, laid the foundation for centuries of marginalization.
But the narrative is changing, Mahama said.
“In the past, the majority of the 54 nations that now comprise Africa were never offered a seat at the table where plans for a new world order were being drawn. But Madam President, the tables are turning.”
He pointed to projections by the United Nations indicating that by 2050, Africa will be home to more than 25% of the global population, with a third of the world’s youth aged 15–24 living on the continent.
“So you see, the future of this world is African,” he declared emphatically.
“Allow me to say this once again, a little louder for those in the back: The future is African.”
Mahama described Africa as an emerging catalyst for global transformation—driving economic reform, human potential, and ecological stability. He said the continent is no longer a passive participant but a force for systemic change.
Acknowledging that some may find this message provocative, Mahama addressed the discomfort directly:
“If this reality, which is fact-based and straightforward, seems unsettling, perhaps it's because you are viewing it through a lens filtered by centuries of colonialism, imperialism, and implicit bias.”
He concluded by emphasizing Africa’s resilience, its capacity for renewal, and the importance of inclusivity in shaping the future of global institutions.
Source: mynewsgh
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