Africa’s Exclusion from UN Security Council Erodes Global Credibility — Prof. Opoku-Agyemang

Vice President Naana Jane Opoku-Agyemang has renewed calls for increased African representation on the United Nations Security Council, warning that the continent’s continued marginalization undermines both the credibility and effectiveness of the global body.

Speaking at the fourth high-level meeting of the In Defence of Democracy Summit in Barcelona on Saturday, April 19, she stressed that meaningful reform of global governance institutions can no longer be postponed. According to her, the current structure of the United Nations system does not reflect contemporary geopolitical realities, particularly the absence of adequate African representation at the highest decision-making level.

“If we are serious about defending democracy, then reform of these institutions cannot be deferred. For Ghana, this includes a long-standing concern, the need to make the United Nations system, particularly the Security Council, more representative of contemporary realities. The absence of adequate African representation continues to affect both credibility and efficiency,” she stated.

Professor Opoku-Agyemang also called for urgent reforms to the global financial system to ensure fair and accessible funding for developing countries. She highlighted that structural imbalances in the international economic order, coupled with rising debt burdens, continue to limit governments’ ability to deliver development and sustain democratic progress.

“Democratic legitimacy is also shaped by outcomes. Across much of the developing world, governments’ ability to deliver is constrained by structural factors, including limited access to affordable finance, debt burdens, and unequal terms of participation in the global economy,” she added.

She emphasized that addressing these systemic challenges is critical to strengthening democratic institutions and restoring public trust in governance, especially across developing nations.

The Effutu Municipal Assembly has also outlined a series of sanitation and environmental interventions aimed at improving public health and cleanliness across the municipality.

According to the Office of the Municipal Chief Executive, the Assembly has intensified efforts under its sanitation and environmental management agenda, completing several key initiatives while planning additional projects to sustain progress.

Among the major activities undertaken are logistical support for National Sanitation Day exercises and consistent participation in organized community clean-up campaigns across the municipality. These exercises have been conducted at least once every month to promote environmental hygiene and community involvement.

The Assembly has also carried out quarterly refuse evacuation under the Sanitation Improvement Programme (SIP), alongside regular disinfection and fumigation exercises to control pests and prevent disease outbreaks.

Further interventions include the maintenance and compaction of the final waste disposal site, as well as the fumigation and upkeep of dumping sites in rural communities such as Ateitu, Osubonpanyin, Gyahadze, and Gyangyanadze.

To address flooding and improve drainage, earth channels have been dredged in about 12 communities, while bush clearing exercises have been undertaken to reduce fire risks and eliminate vector breeding grounds.

In addition, the Assembly has procured sanitary tools and equipment for the Environmental Health Department and acquired eight galvanized steel waste dumpsters to enhance waste collection efficiency.

Infrastructure improvements have also been made, including the construction of a double-pipe culvert at Komfoadae and a single-pipe culvert on Nananom Road, measures expected to improve drainage and road accessibility.

The Assembly noted that these initiatives form part of a broader commitment to strengthening sanitation systems and environmental health in Effutu, with more projects in the pipeline to build on current gains.