President John Dramani Mahama has called for stronger international action over the continuing conflict in Gaza, saying global standards must apply to all parties in a conflict.
Mahama made the call while addressing the 81st United Nations General Assembly in New York on Thursday, September 24, 2026.
He said the Gaza conflict was testing the credibility of the international system. “The veto power must never serve as a license for impunity,” he told world leaders.
Mahama also spoke about sovereign equality among nations. He said a country’s relationship with powerful nations should not determine how it is treated under international law.
“Sovereign equality cannot be a privilege reserved only for nations aligned with global superpowers,” he said.
The President then turned his attention to the situation in Gaza, the West Bank and the occupied territories. He described the conflict as a major test of international credibility.
“Nowhere is this crisis of credibility more painful than in the ongoing persecution of the Palestinian people in Gaza, the West Bank, and the occupied territories,” he said.
Mahama also urged world leaders to speak more directly about the humanitarian situation.
He criticized the use of diplomatic language when discussing the loss of civilian lives. “We must stop using diplomatic euphemisms to veil the human carnage taking place in Gaza,” he said.
The President then posed a direct question to the international community. “How many more innocent lives must be lost before the world acts with decisive moral authority?”
Mahama referred to the death of five-year-old Hind Rajab. He also cited what he said were more than 20,000 children killed in the conflict.
The President condemned collective punishment, enforced starvation and mass displacement.
“Collective punishment, enforced starvation, and mass displacement are flagrant violations of international law,” Mahama said.
Ghana, he said, remains committed to recognizing the sovereign State of Palestine. He also reaffirmed Ghana’s support for a two-state solution.
Under that approach, Israel and Palestine would live side by side. Mahama said the two states should have peace, security and guaranteed borders.
At the same time, the President condemned acts of terrorism by Hamas. He called on all parties to respect international humanitarian law.
“Our moral standards cannot be selective,” Mahama said.
