Mahama meets UN Chief at TICAD9, reaffirms Ghana’s role in regional security

President John Dramani Mahama has held high-level discussions with United Nations Secretary General António Guterres on the sidelines of the ninth Tokyo International Conference on African Development (TICAD9) in Japan.

In a statement shared on social media, President Mahama said the meeting centred on strengthening multilateral cooperation, accelerating progress on the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), Ghana’s economic recovery efforts, and the escalating security situation in West Africa.

He welcomed the Secretary General’s recognition of Ghana’s leadership role within ECOWAS and the African Union, particularly in addressing security challenges linked to the Sahel crisis. The president reaffirmed Ghana’s commitment to collective, regional approaches to stability and peace-building.

“I reiterated Ghana’s unwavering support for multilateralism and the need to further democratise the UN to enhance its representativeness and effectiveness,” President Mahama stated.

He also provided updates on Ghana’s ongoing economic rebound, noting that the country’s debt restructuring programme was progressing in line with efforts to secure long-term stability. Additionally, he expressed gratitude to the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) for its continued support in driving sustainable growth.

The talks highlight Ghana’s broader diplomatic push at TICAD9 to attract investment, deepen global partnerships, and reinforce its position as a key regional player in both economic transformation and peace-building.

President Mahama is expected to engage with several other global leaders and institutions during the conference, which focuses on strengthening cooperation between Africa and Japan in areas including trade, investment, infrastructure, and security.