President Mahama Calls on NAM to Move from Declarations to Action
President John Dramani Mahama has called on the Non-Aligned Movement (NAM) to move beyond declarations and translate its collective principles into practical action, urging member states to strengthen coordinated diplomacy in addressing today’s global challenges.
Addressing the summit marking the 65th anniversary of the Non-Aligned Movement in Belgrade, President Mahama said the movement’s credibility would be measured not by its membership alone, but by its ability to influence international affairs through united and purposeful action.
“We must move from declarations to actions,” the President declared, stressing that NAM should strengthen consultation and coordination among member states, particularly within the United Nations and other multilateral institutions.
President Mahama, who arrived in Belgrade to represent Ghana at the anniversary summit, said the gathering provided an opportunity to renew the founding ideals of the movement while adapting them to contemporary realities. <Cite ref={[“turn0search0”]}/>
He noted that although the Cold War had ended, developing countries continued to face renewed geopolitical competition, unequal access to finance and technology, climate change and an international system in which the voice of the Global South remained underrepresented.
The President said Ghana viewed non-alignment as a policy of positive, principled and active engagement rather than passive neutrality, recalling Dr Kwame Nkrumah’s conviction that newly independent nations must exercise independent judgment in international affairs.
He urged member states to strengthen follow-up mechanisms for summit decisions and focus on strategic priorities where the movement could achieve meaningful impact.
President Mahama also called for a stronger and more representative multilateral system, saying the legitimacy of the international order depended on whether its institutions reflected the diversity of the global community and gave all nations a meaningful voice in decision-making.
He reaffirmed Ghana’s commitment to working with fellow NAM members to advance peace, sustainable development and a more just and equitable international order.
Richard Aniagyei, ISD
