President John Dramani Mahama has voiced deep concerns over the structure of the United Nations Security Council (UNSC), describing it as outdated and failing to reflect the modern global landscape. Speaking at the 2025 Munich Security Conference in Germany on February 14, Mahama emphasized the urgent need for structural reforms, particularly the expansion of permanent membership, to ensure a more inclusive and equitable representation of nations.
“The UN itself has carried out many reforms in terms of trying to increase efficiencies, but one place that has remained static, archaic, and moribund is the Security Council,” Mahama stated. According to him, the Council’s failure to adapt to contemporary geopolitical realities has led to a growing sense of exclusion among developing nations, whose voices remain underrepresented in critical global decision-making processes.
Mahama stressed that Africa, which comprises 54 nations and plays a significant role in global peacekeeping efforts and economic development, cannot continue to be sidelined. He argued that the Security Council’s composition, which has remained largely unchanged since its inception in 1945, no longer serves the interests of an increasingly multipolar world. “The world has changed, and so must the institutions that govern it,” he remarked.
A key issue raised by Mahama was the controversial veto power held by the five permanent members—China, France, Russia, the United Kingdom, and the United States. He insisted that the veto should not be an obstacle to reform, stating, “The veto should not be a stumbling block to adding new permanent members to the Security Council.” His remarks reflect growing frustration among developing nations, which see the veto system as a tool used by the powerful nations to maintain dominance over international affairs.
According to Mahama, true global governance requires fairness and inclusivity, and the Security Council must be expanded to accommodate emerging powers and regions that have been historically marginalized. He questioned why Africa, despite its economic growth and strategic importance in global security, still lacks a permanent seat at the table. He pointed out that the current system disproportionately favors a few nations while ignoring the voices of billions of people across Africa, Latin America, and parts of Asia.
Beyond Security Council reforms, Mahama called for stronger partnerships between the UN and African regional organizations, particularly in addressing peace, security, and economic challenges. He highlighted the critical role played by the African Union (AU) and regional economic blocs such as the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) in resolving conflicts and promoting development across the continent. He urged the UN to enhance its collaboration with these organizations to ensure more effective and locally-driven solutions to Africa’s challenges.
“In order that they can respond to these challenges, the UN becomes more relevant even today in a fragmented world, because when there is fragmentism, we need more multilateralism, more global cooperation,” Mahama stated. His remarks reinforced his belief that, at a time of rising geopolitical tensions and economic uncertainty, the world must embrace collaboration rather than isolationism.
The former Ghanaian president also raised concerns over the increasing influence of great-power politics on international institutions. He criticized the tendency of powerful nations to use global bodies like the UN as instruments for advancing their own strategic interests rather than addressing the common needs of humanity. “We cannot continue to have a system where the most powerful dictate the rules while the rest of the world is expected to follow,” he said.
Mahama’s speech comes at a time when global security is under immense strain, with ongoing conflicts, economic instability, and the mounting challenges posed by climate change. He emphasized the importance of global cooperation in tackling these pressing issues, arguing that institutions like the UN must be more responsive and adaptable. He noted that without structural changes, the Security Council risks becoming irrelevant in an increasingly complex world.
“The challenges of today demand a UN that is stronger, more representative, and more effective in its role as a mediator and enforcer of global peace and security,” he said. Mahama urged world leaders to make Security Council reform a priority, warning that failure to do so could further weaken trust in international institutions.
His call for reform was met with support from several African and Asian leaders present at the conference, many of whom have long advocated for a fairer global governance system. Many believe that Africa’s growing economic and diplomatic influence justifies its inclusion as a permanent member of the Security Council. Supporters argue that an expanded Council would lead to more balanced decision-making, ensuring that policies reflect the perspectives and priorities of a broader range of nations.
However, resistance to reform remains strong among some of the current permanent members, who fear that an expanded Council could dilute their influence and lead to increased gridlock in decision-making. Critics argue that any attempt to change the power structure of the UN must be carefully negotiated to avoid exacerbating geopolitical tensions.
Despite these challenges, Mahama remains optimistic that meaningful change is possible. He urged African nations to take a more unified stance in demanding reforms, emphasizing that a collective and coordinated effort would make their demands harder to ignore. He called on African leaders to continue pushing for a permanent seat on the Security Council, arguing that Africa’s role in global affairs deserves full recognition.
As debates over Security Council reform continue, Mahama’s speech adds momentum to the ongoing discussions on global governance. Many analysts see his remarks as part of a broader effort by African leaders to push for a seat at the table where critical international decisions are made. His arguments echo a growing global consensus that institutions like the UN must evolve to meet the challenges of the 21st century.
For now, the path to reform remains uncertain, but Mahama’s strong advocacy at the Munich Security Conference has once again brought the issue to the forefront of global discourse. His call for fairness, inclusion, and stronger multilateral cooperation resonates with a world increasingly demanding institutional change. The coming months will determine whether the international community is ready to take meaningful steps toward reforming the Security Council or if the current system will continue to persist despite mounting calls for change.
