President John Dramani Mahama, has issued a strong appeal to the United Nations to take decisive action to halt what he described as “crimes” being committed in Gaza amid the ongoing Israel-Palestine conflict.

Delivering his address at the 80th UN General Assembly in New York on Thursday, 25 September 2025, President Mahama warned that continued delays in global intervention would only lead to more unnecessary loss of life. He lamented that thousands of Palestinians have already perished over the past two years.

The Ghanaian leader also sharply criticised the United States for denying visas to Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas and his delegation, effectively barring them from attending the Assembly. He described the move as “deeply troubling” and a dangerous precedent for the UN.

“The denial of visas to President Abbas and the Palestinian delegation sets a bad precedent and should be deeply worrying to all member nations of the United Nations,” he stated.

Reaffirming Ghana’s unwavering support for Palestine, President Mahama recalled that Ghana formally recognised the State of Palestine in 1988 and has consistently supported a two-state solution. He dismissed suggestions that such a settlement would reward militant groups.

“Ghana recognised the State of Palestine in 1988 and has supported a two-state solution since then. Contrary to the claims of some, a two-state solution will not be a reward for Hamas,” he stressed.

Highlighting the humanitarian crisis, Mahama condemned what he described as the “collective punishment” of Palestinians and criticised the UN for avoiding direct language about the scale of suffering in Gaza.

“For nearly two years, and for fear of reprisals, we here in this General Assembly have been playing hide and seek with language to find the right words to help us avoid or excuse what we all know is taking place in Gaza,” he said.

The President concluded with a forceful call for the UN to demonstrate moral courage and act decisively to end the atrocities.