According to President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo, Ghana's recent vote against Russia's invasion of Ukraine at the United Nations (UN) aligns with the country's long-standing principles. He explained that Ghana has consistently rejected the idea that big powers have the freedom to do as they please on this planet.
Ghana has never accepted this principle, regardless of the nation in question. President Akufo-Addo made these comments while receiving German Ministers of Economic Cooperation and Development, and Labour and Social Affairs, Huberus Heil, along with the Director-General of the International Labour Organisation (ILO), Gilbert F. Houngbo.
President Akufo-Addo stressed that the country's history has always been against great power domination over the world. He further explained that it was the same principle that made Ghana vote against Russia's invasion of Ukraine.
He emphasized that great powers trampling on small nations is not something that Ghana welcomes, and within the country's modest means, they will register their disapproval of such actions.
President Akufo-Addo said, “It is a position we will continue to hold. The planet exists for all people, the big powers, as well as the small, and hegemonic tendencies and roles of the world, should be curbed as much as possible.”
President Akufo-Addo expressed the hope that the war in Ukraine would end soon because it has had a pernicious impact on the country's economy and many aspects of its national life.
Ghana holds the position that the planet exists for all people, big and small powers alike and that hegemonic tendencies and roles of the world should be curbed as much as possible.
The President described Ghana's relationship with Germany as being built on concrete measures, and he commended Germany for being one of the countries that shared Ghana's principles.
The German Minister of Labour and Social Affairs, Huberus Heil, commended President Akufo-Addo for leading Ghana to stand on the right side of history when the country voted against Russia's invasion of Ukraine.
He described it as a very important statement that put Ghana on the side of the countries that believed in and supported the Rule of Law and the fight for the respect of internal law.
The invasion of Ukraine by Russia began on February 24, 2022, in a major escalation of the Russo-Ukrainian War, which started in 2014. On March 2, 2022, the United Nations General Assembly passed a resolution condemning the invasion.
The resolution deplored Russia's invasion of Ukraine and demanded a full withdrawal of Russian forces and a reversal of its decision to recognize the self-declared People's Republics of Donetsk and Luhansk.
The resolution was sponsored by 96 countries, and passed with 141 voting in favour, including Ghana, with five against, and 35 abstentions.
The invasion has caused tens of thousands of deaths on both sides and instigated Europe's largest refugee crisis since World War II. By June of last year, about eight million Ukrainians were displaced within their country, and as of this month, more than eight million have fled the country.
Many countries have imposed sanctions on Russia and Belarus, its ally, provided humanitarian and military aid to Ukraine and condemned the invasion. The invasion has been met with widespread international condemnation.
The International Court of Justice ordered Russia to suspend military operations, and the Council of Europe expelled Russia.
