President John Dramani Mahama has urged the international community to embrace a more inclusive and ethical approach to global governance, stressing that the legitimacy, effectiveness, and trustworthiness of international institutions depend on fairness, equity, and broad representation.
Speaking at the World Governments Summit in Dubai, President Mahama emphasised that the credibility of global governance rests on transparency and justice, which he described as the cornerstone of trust among nations. He argued that international institutions must evolve to become more representative and responsive, ensuring that the rules governing trade, finance, climate action, peacekeeping, and technological innovation reflect the voices and interests of developing nations. “Developing nations must have a stronger voice in shaping the rules governing trade, finance, climate action and peacekeeping,” he stated, underscoring the necessity of equitable participation in decision-making processes.
The President highlighted Ghana’s commitment to a cooperative international order built on dialogue rather than confrontation, collaboration rather than isolation, and shared progress rather than zero-sum rivalry. He pointed to Ghana’s diplomatic approach, including partnerships with countries in the Gulf region, which prioritise economic growth, investment, and opportunities for citizens.
Beyond traditional governance, President Mahama addressed the critical need for ethical oversight of rapidly evolving digital technologies, including artificial intelligence, biotechnology, and other emerging systems. He cautioned that technological advancement is outpacing current governance frameworks, creating potential risks of inequitable access, deepening inequality, and uncontrolled societal disruption. “The digital future must not be the privilege of a few nations,” he warned, calling for global frameworks that prioritise ethical AI governance, cybersecurity cooperation, technology transfer, and inclusive digital capacity-building.
President Mahama highlighted Ghana’s progress in digital transformation as a model for responsible technology adoption, citing developments in mobile financial services, national identification systems, and ongoing e-governance reforms. He emphasised that technological innovation should be treated as a shared global resource rather than a tool for new divisions, advocating for international collaboration to ensure emerging technologies benefit all societies equitably.
Concluding his address, President Mahama urged global leaders to adopt policies that advance fairness, accountability, and inclusivity, both in conventional international governance and in the rapidly evolving digital and technological landscape. He underscored that inclusive participation and ethical management of innovation are essential to securing a just and sustainable future in an increasingly interconnected world.
