GUNYO GUNYO
President John Dramani Mahama addresses the 81st UN General Assembly from the podium
President Mahama addresses the 81st General Assembly

22 September 2026 · New York

The Assembly is in session. Ghana’s youth are in the room.

LifeLink photographed GUNYO representatives at a reception and in meetings on the margins of the 81st United Nations General Assembly.

The 2026 address Open the gallery
A GUNYO representative with a guest at the UNGA 81 reception

01 The dispatch

What Ghana carried into the hall

On the sidelines of the Assembly, President John Dramani Mahama urged world leaders to expand economic, digital, and structural opportunities for young people.

Speaking at an Open Society Foundations roundtable, he said this is the moment to create jobs, improve public services, build infrastructure, and widen opportunity.

Foreign Minister Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa is leading Ghana’s diplomatic programme from 18 to 29 September, covering bilateral meetings, UN reform, peace and security, and reparatory justice. He has described the priority as investment and factories that employ a very young population.

Sources: Ghana News Agency, 21–22 September 2026; Starr FM and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs on the Foreign Minister’s UNGA 81 programme.

24 September 2026 · The General Debate

President Mahama addresses the Assembly: Ghana’s 25th presidential address since Nkrumah in 1960.

It is his seventh, under this year’s theme “Restoring Trust, Managing Transformation: A United Nations that Delivers for All”.

The 2026 address in the record All 25 addresses
President Mahama at the General Assembly rostrum, in front of the green marble wall
President Mahama speaking during Ghana’s address to the General Assembly
President Mahama at the podium in the General Assembly hall

Photographs: The Presidency, Republic of Ghana.

02 The reception

Open the gallery
GUNYO representatives greet guests at the UNGA 81 reception, 22 September 2026.
GUNYO representatives greet guests at the UNGA 81 reception, 22 September 2026.
A GUNYO representative with a member of the delegation in New York.
A GUNYO representative with a member of the delegation in New York.
Introductions under the reception tent on the margins of the 81st General Assembly.
Introductions under the reception tent on the margins of the 81st General Assembly.

Paula Elinam Adzo Sowu is the Youth Observer for 2026–27. The gallery includes her meeting with President Mahama and Foreign Minister Ablakwa after the General Debate.