The Minister for Foreign Affairs and Regional Integration, Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa, has held discussions with the Serbian Ambassador to Ghana, Milutin Stanojevic, ahead of the 65th anniversary celebration of the Non-Aligned Movement (NAM) in Belgrade.
The meeting focused on preparations for the special summit scheduled to take place in Belgrade, Serbia, from August 31 to September 1, 2026.
According to Mr Ablakwa, Serbian President Aleksandar Vučić has extended a special invitation to President John Dramani Mahama to attend the anniversary event as a special guest of honour.
President Mahama’s expected participation is linked to Ghana’s historic role in the formation of the Non-Aligned Movement, with Ghana’s first President, Osagyefo Dr Kwame Nkrumah, recognised as one of the founding leaders of the movement.
The Non-Aligned Movement was formally established in Belgrade, then the capital of Yugoslavia, on September 1, 1961. Its founding leaders included Dr Nkrumah, Josip Broz Tito, Gamal Abdel Nasser of Egypt, Jawaharlal Nehru of India and Sukarno of Indonesia.
Mr Ablakwa said the principles that guided the establishment of the movement remain relevant amid current global challenges.
He cited principles including respect for territorial integrity and national sovereignty, non-aggression, non-interference in the domestic affairs of states, equality, nuclear disarmament and peaceful coexistence.
He further recalled Dr Nkrumah’s famous position: “We face neither East nor West; We face forward.”
The Foreign Affairs Minister reaffirmed Ghana’s commitment to the enduring principles of the Non-Aligned Movement, noting that the country would continue to uphold the ideals championed by its founding leader, Dr Kwame Nkrumah.
The 65th anniversary commemoration in Belgrade is expected to provide an opportunity for member states and other participants to reflect on the movement’s historical significance and its continued relevance in contemporary international relations.
