UNSC meeting on threats to International Peace and Security

Ambassador Harold Agyeman
Ghana’s Representative to the United Nations
New York, New York
March 31, 2023

Mr. President,
I would like to begin by thanking High Representative Izumi Nakamitsu for attending to the Council this morning and for the clarity of the briefing provided. During all previous meetings of the Council on Ukraine, Ghana has been consistent in underlining the necessity for the Russian Federation to end its assault on the sovereignty and territorial integrity of Ukraine, as a basis for seeking a political solution to the conflict. We reiterate our principled position that the on-going aggression constitutes a serious violation of international law and contradicts the prohibition against the use of force under article 2(4) of the United Nations Charter.

Mr. President,
As the war in Ukraine rages with no immediate end in sight, the humanitarian toll, which has largely been characterized by forced displacement and the death of thousands, keep compounding. We remain concerned by the horrifying destruction of civilian infrastructure, including schools and hospitals, resulting from the military hostilities, and reiterate our strong condemnation of all such deliberate attacks on civilians and critical infrastructure. We renew our reminder to the warring parties that they have an obligation to respect International Human Rights law and International Humanitarian law and further draw attention to the consequences of accountability that violations entail. While the Ukrainian people have primarily borne the brunt of this brutal war, the repercussion of the war is reverberating far beyond the borders of their country. For many countries in the global South, there is great concern over the present state of affairs and the incapacity of the global economic system to respond to the overwhelming needs which they have in their societies. As we meet, it is imperative to acknowledge that the on-going war is undermining relations between states and creating disruptive and undesirable consequences. We must therefore redouble efforts to get the warring parties to the table of dialogue and diplomacy, including by supporting every potential green shoot for peace.

Mr. President,
The strategic risks arising from deliberate actions or miscalculations from the Ukraine war are real and should not be discounted. As a country we have always stood against the possession of nuclear weapons and oppose emerging strategic doctrines for modernisation of arsenals, tactical use of nuclear weapons and all such modifying measures by nuclear weapon-possessing States. All of us should be aware of the danger that arises when we blur the threshold for the use of nuclear weapons and the abyss it can drive the world into. We must pull back and change course! Accordingly, we urge the protagonists and all actors to exercise maximum restraint and remain mindful of their disarmament commitments and nuclear non-proliferation obligations. It should not be lost on anyone that the nuclear non-proliferation regime, which count as one of the chief cornerstones of the present global security and peace architecture, requires an oxygen of good
faith, dialogue, trust and confidence-building to thrive.

Mr. President,
Our concerns continue to deepen over the mobilization of massive military and other strategic assets to engage in a greater war. As we have stated before and strongly repeat today, the projections of the military logic as a basis for the settlement of this conflict, portend great difficulties. We continue to advocate for the peaceful settlement of the dispute through
the pursuit of negotiations on the basis of the Charter and international law. We note serious ongoing engagements to bring the parties around some principles for a mediation effort, and encourage the constructive engagement of the parties. We would also encourage all countries that are able to exert positive influence on the warring parties to urge them to refrain from
repudiating prospective peace initiatives and proposals.

In concluding, Ghana re-affirms her deep commitment to the sovereignty, political independence and the territorial integrity of Ukraine. We reiterate our solidarity with the people of Ukraine and offer them our support for a hopeful peace effort.

I thank you.