Story by Ayisha Sefakor Adonoo

Pictures by WOI Anku Mawuli

A flag-raising ceremony has been held at the forecourt of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Accra on Tuesday, 27 October 2026, to commemorate the 81st anniversary of the founding of the United Nations (UN).

The ceremony was held under the theme, “Restoring Trust, Managing Transformation: A United Nations That Delivers for All,” which highlights the need to rebuild confidence in multilateral institutions, manage global transformation and strengthen the UN’s capacity to deliver meaningful outcomes for all.

Delivering his address, the Deputy Minister for Foreign Affairs, Honourable James Gyakye Quayson, reaffirmed Ghana’s commitment to the principles of the UN Charter and acknowledged the organisation’s contributions to international peace and security, human rights and sustainable development.

He noted that Ghana’s commitment to the UN was rooted in its national history and longstanding belief in multilateralism. He recalled that Ghana joined the organisation shortly after attaining independence, reflecting the vision of the country’s first President, Dr Kwame Nkrumah, who recognised the connection between Ghana’s freedom and prosperity and the liberation, dignity and progress of humanity.

Hon. Quayson also acknowledged the contributions of the Office of the UN Resident Coordinator and the UN Country Team in Ghana towards aligning the UN Sustainable Development Cooperation Framework with the country’s national development priorities. He reiterated Ghana’s commitment to promoting international peace and security, protecting human rights, supporting humanitarian efforts and strengthening the multilateral system.

He emphasised that contemporary security challenges required a united and coordinated global response, noting that no country could effectively address complex threats to peace and stability in isolation.

In his remarks, the UN Resident Coordinator in Ghana, His Excellency Zia Choudhury, commended Ghana for its consistent support for international cooperation and the advancement of international law.

He said the year’s theme addressed pressing global concerns, including declining trust in multilateral institutions, the need to manage transformation and growing expectations for the UN to deliver equitable results. Mr Choudhury also congratulated Ghana on hosting the signing ceremony for the United Nations Convention on Negotiable Cargo Documents, known as the Accra Convention, on Monday, 26 October 2026. The convention establishes common rules for paper and electronic cargo documents covering road, rail, sea and air transport, allowing a single document to cover a shipment from origin to destination.

He further congratulated Ghana on its election to a second consecutive three-year term on the UN Human Rights Council, beginning on 1 January 2027. He described the development as a reflection of Ghana’s continued engagement in international affairs and multilateral cooperation.