By Love Wilhelmina Abanonave
The President, John Dramani Mahama, has emphasized the need to stand against cruelty, hatred, xenophobia, and racism. In his words, “Cruelty, hatred, xenophobia and racism cannot be normalized.”
Addressing the 80th United Nations General Assembly in New York on Thursday, September 25, 2025, President Mahama urged the global community to promote understanding, empathy, and inclusivity by telling stories which are not slanks but the whole truth.
“When telling a story, let’s not tell it slank, let’s tell the whole truth.”
Speaking on the topic of migrants, he cited examples of successful individuals who have made significant contributions to various fields despite being people of color.
According to him, the issue of racism should be eschewed outrightly. Backing his assertion, President Mahama mentioned Maame Ewusi-Mensah Frimpong, a judge on the UN District Court for the Central District of California and the first Black female judge born in America to immigrant parents from Ghana.
He also mentioned Peter Bossman, a medical doctor who moved to Slovenia in the 1980s and became the first Black mayor of Slovenia and the whole of Eastern Europe.
The iconic Ghanaian-Norwegian artist and designer T. Michael was also acknowledged by President Mahama in his speech.
Concluding, he made mention of the late Kofi Annan, who had been the former UN Secretary-General and Nobel Peace Prize recipient, born in Ghana but spent his adult years abroad and worked tirelessly for global peace and development.
