Ghana has renewed its call for the total elimination of nuclear weapons, cautioning that continued delays in disarmament threaten the credibility of the global non-proliferation regime.
The country is also urging the world to renew its political commitment to nuclear disarmament and multilateral cooperation.
Mr Samuel Yao Kumah, Ghana’s Ambassador and Permanent Representative at the United Nations, said this at the 2026 review conference of the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons (NPT) at the United Nations Headquarters in New York.
He said Ghana aligned itself with statements delivered on behalf of the African Group and the Non-Aligned Movement, particularly their call for “balanced and meaningful progress” across the Treaty’s three pillars; disarmament, non-proliferation, and the peaceful use of nuclear energy.
Mr Kumah noted that Ghana’s foreign policy remained firmly anchored in the pursuit of a world free of nuclear weapons.
“The call for a world free of nuclear weapons remains central to our foreign policy and our engagement in multilateral disarmament processes,” he stated.
He reaffirmed Ghana’s commitment to the total elimination of nuclear weapons through multilateral cooperation and warned that the absence of consensus during the preparatory process for the Review Conference highlighted the urgent need for compromise and renewed political will among States Parties.
The Treaty, he noted, remained the cornerstone of the global non-proliferation and disarmament framework, but its credibility was increasingly under strain due to the lack of progress in implementing Article VI, which committed nuclear-weapon states to pursue disarmament.
“The continued lack of progress on nuclear disarmament risks eroding confidence among State Parties,” he said, urging the Conference to restore trust in the Treaty through concrete outcomes.
The Ambassador described nuclear weapons as an existential threat to humanity, stressing that their humanitarian consequences could never be justified under any circumstances.
He expressed concern over the continued modernization and expansion of nuclear arsenals, saying such actions undermined the objectives of the Treaty.
Ghana, therefore, called on nuclear-weapon states to honour their legal obligations and political commitments by taking practical steps towards the total elimination of nuclear arsenals.
On non-proliferation, Mr Kumah underscored the need for full compliance with international obligations and safeguards, while advocating the peaceful and diplomatic resolution of proliferation concerns in line with international law.
He reiterated Ghana’s support for the peaceful use of nuclear energy, particularly for developing countries seeking to advance sustainable development in sectors such as health, agriculture and energy.
Mr Kumah called for stronger international cooperation through the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) to ensure equitable and non-discriminatory access to nuclear science and technology.
He acknowledged the growing global tensions and divisions among state parties, amid which the Conference was taking place, but cautioned that such challenges should not become excuses for inaction.
Mr Rafael Mariano Grossi, the Director General, IAEA, described the NPT as a “beacon of certainty” in a world facing growing political tensions, fragmentation and war.
Mr Grossi said the treaty, which entered into force in 1970 and now had 191 parties, remained one of the most important instruments in international law and global politics.
He urged member states to rally around the treaty and recommit to its core principles of non-proliferation, disarmament and peaceful use of nuclear technology.
Mr Grossi said there was a worrying trend in some countries where narratives supporting the acquisition of nuclear weapons were gaining ground under the argument of national security.
“Nothing is further from the truth,” he said, stressing that the non-proliferation norm remained central to global peace and security.
The IAEA chief highlighted progress in safeguards and inspection systems under the treaty, noting that almost all NPT state parties had adopted Comprehensive Safeguards Agreements, with only one remaining outside the arrangement.
He added that 145 countries had also accepted the Additional Protocol, which strengthened the IAEA’s inspection authority.
On nuclear energy, Mr Grossi said demand was increasing worldwide as countries sought reliable and low-carbon energy sources.
He referenced the consensus reached at COP28 that nuclear energy, alongside renewable energy, was essential to the world’s future energy mix.
He said more developing countries, including Bangladesh, Türkiye and Egypt, were investing in nuclear power programmes.
Mr Grossi also announced growing support from international financial institutions for nuclear energy projects.
The IAEA and the World Bank signed a historic agreement last year to support nuclear financing, while other institutions, including the African Development Bank, were considering similar arrangements.
Beyond energy, he said nuclear science continued to transform lives through healthcare and agriculture initiatives.
Mr Grossi cited the IAEA’s “Rays of Hope” programme, which supports cancer treatment and diagnostic services in more than 90 countries, particularly in Africa.
He highlighted the “Atoms4Food” initiative, implemented with the Food and Agriculture Organisation, which uses nuclear techniques to develop drought-resistant crops and combat insect-borne diseases such as dengue and chikungunya.
Source: GNA
