Ablakwa Calls for Action on Durban Declaration Commitments

The Foreign Affairs Minister, Mr Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa, has called on the international community to move beyond political declarations and take decisive action to tackle racism, racial discrimination, xenophobia and related intolerance.

He said 25 years after the adoption of the Durban Declaration and Programme of Action, many of the challenges the framework sought to address remained unresolved, requiring stronger international action.

Mr Ablakwa made the call at a High-Level Plenary Meeting of the United Nations General Assembly in New York on Monday to commemorate the 25th anniversary of the Durban Declaration and Programme of Action.

He said the anniversary should serve as a moment of reckoning for the international community and called for renewed efforts to address historical injustices and dismantle structures that perpetuate inequality.

The Minister cited the continued existence of racism and racial discrimination, xenophobic attacks in South Africa, the conflict in Sudan and the situation in Palestine as issues requiring stronger collective action.

He also questioned the continued absence of a permanent African seat on the UN Security Council, saying the exclusion of Africa, a continent of about 1.4 billion people, was inconsistent with the principles of the Durban Declaration.

Mr Ablakwa said Ghana remained committed to the principles of Durban and would continue to support efforts to promote equality, justice and respect for human dignity.

He said the Durban commitments must become reality rather than remain slogans, adding that the international community had a shared responsibility to ensure that all people were treated equally.

The Minister also linked the Durban agenda to Ghana’s campaign for reparatory justice, saying historical injustices continued to shape present inequalities.

He called for a sincere apology, the return of looted cultural property, repair for historical harm and a commitment to prevent such injustices from recurring.

Mr Ablakwa further called for the strengthening of the International Criminal Court (ICC), saying Ghana opposed attempts to abolish the institution.

He said the ICC should be protected and strengthened to help ensure accountability for crimes against humanity.

He reaffirmed Ghana’s commitment to the principles of the Durban Declaration and the pursuit of reparatory justice, saying these efforts should contribute to building a world where all lives matter.

Joyce Adwoa Animia Ocran, ISD