YouSaid · the spoken record

Alhaji Aliu Mahama

lines on the record: 29
first: 2001-09-24
most recent: 2004-09-24
sittings or episodes: 2
sources: un-general-debate

Every line below is reproduced as it was said and linked to the record it came from. Nothing here is summarised or generated. Directory · Search · Corrections

“In conclusion, I urge Member States to rededicate themselves individually and collectively to the ideals that underpin the Organization and provide it with the commensurate resources as it strives to fulfil the aspirations of the peoples of the world. We cannot, should not and must not fail in that undertaking.”
2004-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 59 (2004)
“In that regard, we will continue to condemn all attacks against United Nations personnel and call for firm action by States to establish conditions that prevent such attacks, in fulfilment of the obligations of host countries towards the United Nations and its personnel. Ghana, as a major troop-contributing country, will continue to support United Nations peacekeeping operations globally, as well as in Africa. That commitment, which began with our participation in the United Nations Operation in the Congo in 1960, is born of the firm moral conviction in our solidarity for humanity and the knowledge that a lack of peace and stability anywhere can be a real threat to peace and security for all of us.”
2004-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 59 (2004)
“We call for the adoption of effective policies to eradicate poverty, to ensure access to education and to provide families with support to guarantee the well- being of children. Decisive international cooperation is also required to strengthen legal and other preventive mechanisms to tackle effectively the increasing practice of child trafficking for unconscionable exploitative purposes. Ghana believes that the staff of the Organization, who make sacrifices daily to maintain peace and security in zones of conflict and humanitarian disaster, deserve to be provided with a secure and safe 20 environment in which to operate.”
2004-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 59 (2004)
“Since the adoption of the Beijing Declaration and Platform for Action and the outcome of the twenty-third special session of the General Assembly, gender equality has been an essential element of Ghanaís efforts to attain sustainable development. The active involvement of women in political processes and decision-making at all levels and in all sectors is being vigorously pursued. Impediments such as discrimination and violence against women are being dealt with through education, advocacy and legislation. Despite the strong political will within the international community to create a world fit for children, the reality in many parts of the world is a far cry from the ideals voiced at the twenty-seventh special session of the General Assembly, on children.”
2004-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 59 (2004)
“The pandemic has caused untold suffering and death in our countries, destroying entire communities, reversing development gains and posing a serious security threat. Unfortunately, despite the substantial measures taken by the Government in combating the scourge, Ghanaís efforts have been severely constrained by a lack of adequate resources required to prevent new infections, provide care and support for people, particularly women and children living with HIV/AIDS. We wish to urge the international community to provide the needed resources for the fight against this global emergency. Ghana attaches great importance to the empowerment of women to make them equal partners in the formulation and implementation of development policies.”
2004-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 59 (2004)
“Although ODA flows, which decreased in the 1990s, have picked up in recent years, the fact that these flows remain, on average, still far below internationally agreed targets is a major cause for concern. In this connection, it is pertinent to recall that an additional $50 billion a year in development assistance would be required as a minimum to meet the Millennium Development Goals. The fundamental question facing the international community is whether it is committed to the indispensable, challenging, but ultimately rewarding global partnership, which alone can make this dream come true. The HIV/AIDS pandemic is a global emergency and a key threat to achieving the Millennium Development Goals, especially for countries in sub- Saharan Africa.”
2004-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 59 (2004)
“For many countries in Africa, stable long-term planning will be impossible without more systematic and sustained debt relief. Despite the progress recorded in the implementation of the enhanced Heavily Indebted Poor Countries Debt Initiative and the provision of substantial debt relief by bilateral official creditors, achieving long-term debt sustainability and, at the same time, a reduction in poverty as targeted, remains a major problem for many African countries. We, therefore, welcome the initiative of British Prime Minister Tony Blair in setting up the African Commission. Official development assistance (ODA), as we are aware, continues to play an essential role in complementing other sources of financing for development and creating a congenial environment for private sector activity.”
2004-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 59 (2004)
“There continues to be an agonizing paradox between the summit and conference declarations of a new global partnership and the persistence of an asymmetrical global system that works largely against the interests of developing countries. Quite evidently, the laudable long-term initiatives to halve hunger and poverty by the year 2015 cannot be achieved without a fundamental restructuring of the global trade system, particularly in agricultural products. Such an initiative should include developed countriesí dismantling subsidies and lowering tariffs, thereby helping to uphold and safeguard an open, equitable, rule-based, predictable, non-discriminatory trading and financial system. The concerns of developing countries have been reiterated in this Assembly over the years; we therefore urge our developed partners to act now.”
2004-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 59 (2004)
“The important decisions taken at the last summit of the African Union in Addis Ababa have given cause for cautious optimism as the political leadership, Governments, the public, civil society and the private sector now seem to have embarked upon a journey of collaborative effort to put an end to conflicts and to focus instead on the promotion of peace, security and sustainable development for the benefit of the peoples of the continent. 19 It is disheartening, though, to observe that, despite the good intentions of the international community, as exemplified at the various international forums that have followed the Millennium Summit, there has not been any significant achievement due to the absence of genuine global partnership for development.”
2004-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 59 (2004)
“The initiatives of the Economic Community of West African States, the West African regional body currently chaired by the President of Ghana, Mr. John Agyekum Kufuor, in dealing with the conflicts that have recently plagued our region are good examples of this development. Accra has been the venue for successful peace talks concerning Liberia and, most recently, on 29 July 2004, CÙte díIvoire, which has revived hopes for a durable peace in that important West African country.”
2004-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 59 (2004)
“It was, therefore, a very welcome and positive development when the General Assembly, in its resolution 57/7 of 4 November 2002, urged the international community to organize support for African countries within the framework of the principles, objectives and priorities of NEPAD. However, for this convergence of vision and effort to yield the desired results, there must be genuine partnership between Africa and the international community. The implementation of NEPAD and the creation of institutions such as the Pan-African Parliament, the Peace and Security Council, the Economic, Social and Cultural Council, and various commissions of the recently established African Union, reflect Africaís determination to be the architect of its own future.”
2004-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 59 (2004)
“In tandem, we are striving to foster political stability, accountable and transparent governance under the rule of law, because we believe it is the right thing to do. Ghana has volunteered as the first country in Africa for the African Peer Review Mechanism, and my Government is cooperating with the review panel to facilitate the preparation of the review report, because we in Ghana cherish very much our democracy and our commitment of respect for human rights and the rule of law. Our renewed resolve, within the context of NEPAD, to accelerate the sustainable development of the continent, dovetails fully with the avowed commitment of the international community to help achieve the Millennium Development Goals.”
2004-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 59 (2004)
“The historic Millennium Summit of the United Nations, which brought together 189 nations in September 2000 and adopted the Millennium Declaration, was a clarion call for action to solve these problems and set forth the Millennium Development Goals with measurable goals and targets for combating them. On that occasion, the international community pledged to spare no effort to free our fellow men, women and children from the abject and dehumanizing conditions of extreme poverty. Africa has adopted the New Partnership for Africa's Development (NEPAD), which reaffirms our belief that Africans have the primary responsibility to solve the problems of poverty, hunger, disease and illiteracy afflicting the majority of our population and to stem Africa's marginalization from global markets.”
2004-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 59 (2004)
“To this end, we look forward to a revitalized General Assembly that would assume its rightful position as the most authoritative and representative organ of the United Nations. With regard to the Security Council, the African position emphasizes the need to democratize and ensure equitable geographical representation, with Africa allotted no less than two permanent seats and five non- permanent seats in the expanded Security Council. I wish to address the crucial issue of poverty eradication and the promotion of sustainable development in developing countries in which widespread poverty is endemic, particularly in Africa. As we strive to overcome our current economic woes, we need the worldís solidarity, resources, technical know-how and support.”
2004-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 59 (2004)
“In this regard, we applaud the initiative of our illustrious compatriot, Secretary-General Kofi Annan, in setting up the United Nations High-Level Panel on Threats, Challenges and Change, to make proposals on how the United Nations can best be reformed to meet the new challenges of our world. We, in Africa, agree that the objectives of the United Nations reforms, including the revitalization of the General Assembly and the reform of the Security Council, are aimed at enhancing the role of the Organization and its capacity to overcome current threats and emerging challenges. The reforms should be in conformity with the purposes and principles of the United Nations Charter and the process must be based on full consultations in a democratic and transparent manner.”
2004-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 59 (2004)
“11 September reminds us of the importance of seeking a multilateral and peaceful means for the maintenance of international peace and security, especially now, when it has become evident that only collective, multilateral efforts will suffice to defeat the new scourge of mankind, global terrorism. The United Nations has an indispensable role to play, being the most universal and representative intergovernmental organization and the best forum for the practice of multilateralism. However, the success of 18 multilateralism and collective security will depend on how the reforms of the United Nations system are implemented.”
2004-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 59 (2004)
“I have the distinct honour to congratulate you, Mr. President, a distinguished African diplomat, on your election to preside over the fifty-ninth session of this Assembly and to wish you success in your undertaking. I would also like to commend your predecessor, Mr. Julian Hunte, for the dedication and commitment that he brought to bear on his stewardship of the fifty-eighth session. Three years ago, a terrible tragedy hit this city. The unprecedented terrorist attacks of 11 September resulted in the death of thousands of innocent people of many nationalities, including some from my own country, Ghana. The whole world shared the pain and sorrow of New York in the aftermath of those atrocities. The whole world also rose in solidarity with the people of the United States to ensure that such tragedies would not happen again.”
2004-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 59 (2004)
“The Organization is the best means available for maintaining international peace and security and promoting fruitful international cooperation. We must all resolve to strengthen our will to make it more effective and to redeem the majority of our people from wars, disease and poverty by providing it with financial and material resources commensurate with its responsibilities.”
2001-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 56 (2001)
“As a result of the great importance that Ghana attaches to the advancement of women, our Government has elevated the national machinery for the advancement of women into a full-fledged ministry headed by a cabinet minister. We are determined, through practical measures, to make our women full and effective partners in the development of our country. Ghana welcomes the remarkable success achieved by the General Assembly at its fifty-fifth session with the adoption, after protracted negotiations, of the resolutions on the scale of assessments for the regular and peacekeeping budgets. It is therefore our considered view that both resolutions should ensure the financial solvency and viability of the Organization. In conclusion, I wish to reassure the Assembly of Ghana’s abiding commitment to the United Nations and its ideals.”
2001-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 56 (2001)
“In this connection, the outcomes of the International Conference on Financing for Development, to be held next year in Monterrey, Mexico, and of the World Summit on Sustainable Development, to be held in Johannesburg, will be critical tests of our willingness 25 to tackle concretely the challenges we set for ourselves in the Millennium Declaration. At the onset of the new millennium, we hope that gender issues will continue to engage the attention of the international community. The adoption of the Beijing Declaration and Platform for Action, in 1995, and the subsequent adoption of further actions and initiatives by the twenty-third special session of the General Assembly, last year, indicate the universal recognition of the need to empower women as partners in socio-economic development.”
2001-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 56 (2001)
“The decisions we took in Lusaka during the last summit of the Organization of African Unity (OAU) on the African Union and the New Partnership for African Development have reasserted Africa’s leadership and responsibility for the continent’s development agenda. Ghana intends to play its part through positive diplomacy and cooperation with other African countries to accelerate regional integration and make Africa a zone of economic empowerment. Africa accepts its primary responsibility for its own development. However, the contribution of its development partners will continue to be crucial.”
2001-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 56 (2001)
“We believe that the success of our efforts at the global level will depend largely on the quality of governance in our respective countries. We cannot claim to uphold the dignity of every human being or make claims to social equity if we fail to uphold democracy and the rule of law, combat corruption and strengthen the institutions of governance. It is therefore gratifying to note that in the past few years democracy has begun to take root in Africa. This trend should be encouraged and consolidated with support from the international community. It is for this reason that Ghana fully endorsed the Constitutive Act of the African Union, which, among other things, rejects unconstitutional changes of Government and reaffirms respect for democratic principles, human rights, the rule of law and good governance.”
2001-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 56 (2001)
“This will enable them to reach their potential for sustained growth through conducive policies concerning debt, market access, transfer of technology, increased flows of capital and foreign direct investment, and enhanced official development assistance. It is important, particularly at this moment when the fourth Ministerial Conference of the World Trade Organization is taking place in Doha, to emphasize the critical role of global trade in generating the resources for financing development in developing countries. The outcome of the Doha Conference, our commitment to pursuing the decisions and processes emanating from that Conference, the implementation of the commitments made in the Uruguay Round and how we address intellectual property rights should clearly determine our commitment to eradicating poverty throughout the world.”
2001-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 56 (2001)
“Ghana will continue to live up to its Charter obligations and to play an active role in international peacekeeping, with a view to assisting the United Nations in its task of maintaining global peace and security. Only a year ago, world leaders, at the Millennium Summit, committed themselves to providing leadership to create a better world, one which would uphold human dignity, equality and equity at the global level, through the elimination of poverty and the creation of a conducive environment for development. To achieve this, it is imperative that the international community take steps to assist countries that have created the necessary environment for sound economic development.”
2001-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 56 (2001)
“They are now the weapons of choice and the tools for promoting violence and conflicts in Africa. Such weapons have always been used against the most vulnerable in society, especially women and children. We therefore welcome the Programme of Action adopted at the recent United Nations Conference on the Illicit Trade in Small Arms and Light Weapons in All Its Aspects. While it does not respond to all of our concerns or meet all of our expectations, we still consider it to be the beginning of a process that will lead to an internationally binding instrument on managing and controlling such weapons. Conflicts, particularly in the developing world, have robbed us of the opportunity to improve the circumstances of our people. Sustainable development can be achieved only in an environment of peace and security.”
2001-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 56 (2001)
“As we forge ahead, our quest to free the world of terrorism will be enhanced if we adequately address 24 both the symptoms and the underlying causes that give rise to such criminal acts. Developing countries should be provided with the necessary resources to play a meaningful role in confronting these challenges. The recent threats and crimes against humanity have reinforced our belief in the need for the early establishment of the International Criminal Court, in order to enable the global community to deal appropriately with such phenomena. We therefore urge all Member States that have not yet ratified the Statute to do so to enable it to enter into force. The proliferation of conventional weapons, notably small arms and light weapons, has been of great concern to the Government and the people of Ghana.”
2001-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 56 (2001)
“The tragic terrorist attacks of 11 September 2001 awakened the world to the new challenges confronting international peace and security. The fight against terrorism must be a collective action, guided by the purposes and principles of the United Nations Charter and of international law. Ghana welcomes the international community’s response in confronting this threat to peace and security. We also applaud the swift response of the Security Council and of the General Assembly, which not only condemned the attacks, but also took measures aimed at confronting terrorism. Resolution 1373 (2001), which outlines the measures that all countries — irrespective of size, wealth or might — should adopt to forestall and combat terrorism must be pursued by all peace-loving nations.”
2001-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 56 (2001)
“The Nobel Peace Prize, awarded jointly to the Secretary-General and the United Nations, is in recognition of their devotion to the pursuit of global peace and security. On this occasion, I can only endorse the sentiments expressed by Mr. Annan that the award should serve as an impetus to record greater achievements in the service of humanity. The last century witnessed laudable achievements in the political, economic, scientific and technological spheres. Despite these positive developments, history, in the end, will remember it for the numerous conflicts that marked it, with their attendant socio-economic disruptions, environmental degradation, the emergence of hitherto-unknown diseases and the persistence of poverty among the majority of our people.”
2001-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 56 (2001)
“Mr. Han’s election to the fifty-sixth session of the General Assembly is a tribute to his vast experience and accomplished diplomatic skills. It is also an honour to his country, the Republic of Korea, with which my country enjoys the most cordial and friendly relations. I ask him to please accept our congratulations. May I also express our gratitude and appreciation to his immediate predecessor, Mr. Harri Holkeri of Finland, for the able manner in which he guided the work of the fifty-fifth session. I wish to express the heartfelt gratitude of the Government and the people of Ghana to the States Members of the United Nations for having placed their trust and the destiny of this universal Organization once again in the hands of an illustrious son of Ghana and of Africa, Mr. Kofi Annan, for the next five years.”
2001-09-24 · UN General Assembly · General Debate, Session 56 (2001)