Ghana’s President, John Mahama, has cautioned world leaders against normalising hatred, cruelty, and xenophobia towards migrants, stressing that migration should be discussed with honesty and humanity.
Speaking on Thursday at the United Nations General Assembly in New York, Mahama said:
“We cannot normalise cruelty. We cannot normalise hatred. We cannot normalise xenophobia and racism.”
The Ghanaian leader underscored the positive contributions of African immigrants in Western societies, noting:
“I dare say these are not invaders. These are not criminals.”
Mahama also highlighted the role of climate change in driving migration, explaining that many Africans are forced to flee as desertification renders towns and villages unlivable, despite the continent contributing little to global carbon emissions.
Though he avoided naming specific leaders, his remarks came just two days after US President Donald Trump used the UN platform to criticise European countries for admitting migrants. Trump, who boasted of his mass deportation campaign, had warned: “Your countries are going to hell.”
While sharply condemning anti-migrant rhetoric, Mahama has continued cooperating with Washington, including accepting non-Ghanaians deported from the United States.
