President John Dramani Mahama has called on the Non-Aligned Movement (NAM) to take stronger collective action to confront climate change, artificial intelligence, digital inequality and widening development gaps.
Speaking at the 65th anniversary commemoration of the Non-Aligned Movement in Belgrade, Serbia, President Mahama said the movement must adapt its historic principles to the realities and challenges of the modern world.
“Looking ahead, we must build on this historical legacy while adapting to this changing world,” he said.
“We must strengthen coordination among member states and translate our shared principles into practical action.”
The President said the rapid development of artificial intelligence, widening inequalities in access to digital technologies and the growing impact of climate change required greater cooperation among countries of the Global South.
He urged NAM to remain a united voice for peace, sovereignty, sustainable development and a more just and equitable international order.
President Mahama said climate change represented one of the areas where the collective voice of developing countries must remain strong.
“Our planet is at risk,” he said.
He pointed to extreme weather events, including fires in southern Europe, droughts and desertification in Africa and destructive flooding in parts of Asia, as evidence of the growing consequences of climate change.
“Climate change and global warming are real,” he stressed, calling on NAM members to speak with one united voice in advancing climate advocacy and action.
President Mahama said the diversity of the Non-Aligned Movement was one of its greatest strengths.
He explained that member states could build on their shared interests to focus their collective efforts on areas where they could make meaningful differences.
The President also stressed the importance of reforming global institutions to give developing countries greater influence in international decision-making.
According to him, NAM must use its broad membership to strengthen multilateralism and ensure that the Global South played a more significant role in shaping global affairs.
President Mahama said Ghana remained committed to working with all member states to advance a fairer international order.
The Ghanaian leader also used his address to recall the contribution of Ghana’s first President, Dr Kwame Nkrumah, to the formation of the Non-Aligned Movement.
Dr Nkrumah was among the key leaders associated with the movement’s founding vision, alongside Yugoslavia’s Josip Broz Tito, India’s Jawaharlal Nehru, Egypt’s Gamal Abdel Nasser and Indonesia’s Sukarno.
President Mahama said the principles championed by those leaders remained relevant 65 years after the historic Belgrade Conference.
He called on member states to renew the spirit of the movement and transform their collective strength into practical action.
“With principle, purpose and confidence, let us renew the spirit of Belgrade and translate our collective strength into practical action for the benefit of our people,” he said.
Story by: Emmanuel Romeo Tetteh(#RomeoWrites✍️)/ Presidential Affairs Correspondent | Ghana 🇬🇭
