President John Dramani Mahama has arrived in Belgrade, Serbia, to participate in the summit commemorating the 65th anniversary of the Non-Aligned Movement (NAM).
Ghana’s participation holds historical significance, as the country was among the founding members of NAM when the movement was established in 1961.
The summit, being hosted by Serbian President Aleksandar Vučić, is being held under the theme, “The Legacy of Non-Alignment: Lessons for Today’s World.”
Discussions are expected to focus on the continued relevance of the movement’s founding principles, including respect for national sovereignty and territorial integrity, non-interference in the internal affairs of states and stronger economic cooperation among developing countries.
More than 30 countries from Africa, Asia, Europe and Latin America are represented at the high-level meeting.
With 120 member states, NAM remains the largest international grouping outside the United Nations. The movement emerged during the Cold War as developing countries sought to pursue an independent foreign policy rather than align with either the Western or Soviet blocs.
Ghana played a prominent role in the movement’s formation. Its first President, Dr. Kwame Nkrumah, was among the leaders who helped shape the Non-Aligned vision, alongside Yugoslav President Josip Broz Tito, Indian Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru, Egyptian President Gamal Abdel Nasser and Indonesian President Sukarno.
President Mahama’s attendance therefore renews Ghana’s participation in a diplomatic platform that has historically championed the interests and independence of developing nations.
