Ghana is amongst a list of one hundred and forty-three (143) countries supporting the state of Palestine to become a full UN member of the United Nations.
Despite its long-held support for “Israel’s right to exist and to defend itself” following the October 7 2023 attacks, Ghana, in the latest turn of events voted at a United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) meeting Friday, May 11, 2023, to back a UN resolution that seeks to recognise Palestine as a Sovereign territory qualified to join the Global Intergovernmental organisation and recommending the UN Security Council “reconsider the matter favourably”.
The current resolution does not give Palestinians full membership but recognises Palestine as qualified to join, and it gives Palestine more participation and some rights within the UNGA.
Explaining the voting pattern of Ghana and other member states of the Non-Aligned Movement(NAM), the Republic of Uganda, leading a statement on behalf of NAM noted that the admission of the State of Palestine based on the two-state solution based on the June 4th 1967 borders should be considered “a just and viable path to peace” adding that “an independent state of Palestine will restore the Dignity of the people of Palestine as a full member state of the United Nations with Sovereign rights Privileges and obligations alongside all other nations in the International Community”.
The Non-Aligned Movement further urged all countries that have not recognised the state of Palestine to do that immediately as an expression of their sincere commitment to peace and their respect for international law and legality with the relevant United Nations resolution.
The group similar to concerns of some UN member-states also pointed out that they were “gravely concerned about the failure to end Israel's aggression on Gaza” and Grave breaches of international law including humanitarian and human rights law being perpetrated despite the warnings by the United Nations special reporters of an unfolding genocide in the Gaza strip.
“We also note the case initiated by South Africa, a member of the movement against Israel at the International Court of Justice seeking provisional measures to hold the aggression against the Palestinian people and stress the imperative of our accountability for all war crimes and crimes against humanity, now member states once again demand an immediate cease-fire” NAM member states noted.
Malawi was the only African Country which failed to indicate its stance on the matter and opted to abstain from the subject matter. No other African country voted against the resolution.
Credit: Blessed Sogah