MAHAMA TO ADDRESS UN GENERAL ASSEMBLY TODAY

President John Dramani Mahama is scheduled to address the 81st United Nations General Assembly on Thursday, delivering Ghana's official statement before world leaders as the annual gathering confronts conflicts, economic pressures and growing questions about the effectiveness of the international system.

Mahama's appearance at the General Debate will mark the 25th address delivered by a Ghanaian president since the country became a member of the United Nations following independence in 1957, according to Ghana's Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

It will also be Mahama's seventh presidential address to the General Debate.

The President previously addressed the Assembly in 2012, 2013, 2014, 2015, 2016 and 2025.

Ghana's first President, Dr Kwame Nkrumah, delivered the country's first presidential address to the General Assembly on September 23, 1960.

Former President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo Addo delivered eight addresses between 2017 and 2024, while former President John Agyekum Kufuor addressed the General Debate six times.

Former President John Evans Atta Mills delivered two addresses, while former President Jerry John Rawlings addressed the Assembly once.

Ghana continued to be represented at the United Nations during years when its president did not personally address the General Debate, including through foreign ministers and other senior government officials.

Mahama's address comes during a General Assembly being held under the theme "Restoring Trust, Managing Transformation: A United Nations that Delivers for All."

His appearance follows several diplomatic and economic engagements since arriving in New York.

Earlier this week, Mahama hosted a high level event on the Accra Reset, an initiative focused on reforming global development cooperation and strengthening the ability of developing countries to build more resilient systems.

The President has argued that international development must move toward partnerships based on greater equality, national ownership and stronger domestic capacity.

Ghana is expected to carry that agenda into the African Union when it assumes the chairmanship of the continental body in 2027.

Mahama also hosted a high level event on reparatory justice and the return and restitution of African cultural properties and heritage.

During that event, he called for a more structured international system to facilitate the return of African artefacts, human remains and cultural property held outside the continent.

Beyond those engagements, the President has used his visit to promote Ghana as an investment destination.

On Wednesday, Mahama rang the closing bell at the Nasdaq Stock Market in New York, where he said Ghana was open for business and sought to highlight the country's investment opportunities.

Thursday's General Assembly address will provide Mahama with his most prominent international platform of the visit.

The speech comes as world leaders confront a range of international challenges, including armed conflicts, economic uncertainty, climate pressures, development financing and debates over reform of multilateral institutions.

Ghana has historically used its appearances at the United Nations to advocate multilateral cooperation, African development, peace and security and a stronger voice for developing countries in global decision making.

Mahama's address will therefore be closely watched for how his administration positions Ghana on those issues and how the President connects the country's domestic priorities with broader African and international concerns.

The 81st session of the UN General Assembly opened on September 8, with the General Debate beginning on September 22.

Following his address, Mahama is expected to continue bilateral and investment engagements in New York.

He is also scheduled to meet members of the Ghanaian community in the United States at a town hall meeting on Friday.