Multilateral cooperation in the interest of a more just, democratic and sustainable world order

MAINTENANCE OF INTERNATIONAL PEACE AND SECURITY: MULTILATERAL COOPERATION IN THE INTEREST OF A MORE JUST, DEMOCRATIC AND SUSTAINABLE WORLD ORDER

Ambassador Harold Agyeman
Ghana’s Representative to the United Nations
Security Council Chamber
United Nations, New York
July 17 2024

Mr. President,
I begin by expressing my gratitude to your delegation for organizing today’s open debate. Ghana shares in the objects of this meeting and the conversation it raises for a just, democratic and sustainable world order.

As our nations have become increasingly interdependent, it is regrettable that the collective resolve and actions that are required to address the many complex, interlocking and multifaceted challenges of our times is rather weakening. With present trends, we risk a major short-circuiting of the multilateral system that has been overcharged with major problems, has at its disposable known solutions, but is unresolved for critical actions.

As we have witnessed in recent times significant threats to international peace and security from drivers such as violent extremism and terrorism, especially in Africa; the unabated assailing of civilians and infrastructure including in Gaza; the brutalities against innocent populations in Myanmar and places such as Sudan; and the unacceptable reality of conflict in Ukraine, Ghana remains ever-more convinced that what is required now is not less multilateralism but rather more – multilateralism that must unburden itself of past privileges and sinecures, and which must firmly anchor itself to the foundations of fairness and equity, and the realities of a changed world.

Mr. President,
In contributing to today’s debate therefore, Ghana would make three key points.
First, for multilateralism to deliver global peace and stability it must rest on our individual and collective commitment for international law and a rules-based order that is grounded in full and total respect for the Charter of the United Nations. The purposes and principles of the Charter are not a-la-carte and should not be treated as such. In this regard, whether it is the non-use of force, the peaceful settlement of disputes, non-intervention in the internal affairs of other States or the sovereign equality of States, there should not be selectivity and double standards. Far too many times, double standards have been overlooked and to do so into the future in a world of multiple actors would risk our common peace.

Secondly, the international institutions at the heart of global governance, which drive the processes of our multilateral world and were established to guarantee stability, are failing and need urgent reform. Indeed, it is Ghana’s view that the privileged circumstances upon which benefits and costs have been assigned to Member States in the multilateral order, including within the context of the United Nations Charter, no longer fully works and should be reformed.

While benefits continue to accrue to the few, the costs of many have increased and remain unresolved. The veto granted to permanent members of the Security Council no longer works as a safety valve but rather as a log-jam, and the credibility of this Council is undermined each day reforms delay. For us in Africa, the Ezulwini Consensus embodies our unified position on the Security Council reforms. We believe it offers the world an opportunity to rectify the historical injustice that has deprived our continent of permanent and adequate representation on the Security Council and every step taken in furtherance of a reformed Council that is truly representative of all regions of the world, both in form and substance, is an effort that will earn Ghana’s support.

Finally, the overload of peace and security problems that multilateralism is called upon to address, requires all of us to appreciate that no single country can lead the charge. We must therefore prioritise networked and efficient multilateralism, and reinforce the importance of regional organizations in the maintenance of international peace and security as envisaged in Chapter VIII of the United Nations Charter.

Given the complexity of Africa’s peace and security concerns, there is a need to deepen the partnership with the African Union, leveraging the Council’s recent framework resolution 2719 (2023), which Ghana is happy to be associated with. It is important that by our actions or inactions we do not rollback the noble objectives of resolution 2719. In its simplest form, it represents new hope and additional capacity for “Silencing the Guns” on the African continent. The Council’s goals should therefore not run apart that of Africa as to do so would be unhelpful and serve as a great damage to multilateralism.

Mr. President,
Let me conclude by stating that since the world is not a perfect place our efforts at improving multilateralism should not make the perfect an enemy of the good. We may all have many aspirations for multilateralism but in truth, when we cut to the brass tacks, the most important levers of constraint that need to be released are few, and if we commit ourselves to act on them, we can truly deliver for our nations multilateralism that is just, democratic and sustainable for our shared and common benefit.

I thank you for your kind attention.