Shirley Ayorkor Botchwey
Ghana has tasked the global community to take deliberate steps to end the nuclear arms race which is threatening world peace and the survival of humanity.
The Minister of Foreign Affairs and Regional Integration, Shirley Ayorkor Botchwey, made the call on behalf of the West African State at a high-level plenary meeting to commemorate and promote the International Day for the total elimination of nuclear weapons in New York, United States, on the sidelines of the 74th session of the UN General Assembly.
She told the international community that Ghana remained firmly convinced that the nuclear arms race would not have any winners, saying “if we do not resolve and act collectively to stop it, we will all become losers in the end.”
She said “this is a scenario we cannot contemplate or allow to happen as no interest will be served.”
“As we commemorate this Day, let us reaffirm our commitment to actively participate in global efforts towards ensuring meaningful progress for the realization of a world without nuclear weapons,” she added.
The minister said “Ghana remains concerned about the continuing threat posed by accidental or intentional use of nuclear weapons and other weapons of mass destruction.”
She explained that the death toll and sheer destruction as well as long-term damage to human health, the environment, climate and socio-economic development that may arise from any use of nuclear weapons should not be downplayed.
“Indeed, recent developments on the international scene give us good reasons to believe that the risk of a new nuclear arms race is real,” she said.
“It is a matter of concern to Ghana’s delegation that the overall objective of achieving general and complete disarmament as envisaged by the Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT) has eluded us for decades,” she told the gathering.
“This notwithstanding, we are equally convinced that a balanced implementation of previously-agreed norms and obligations under the Treaty, especially on nuclear disarmament, non-proliferation and peaceful uses of nuclear energy by all states, will restore the trust and confidence required to make meaningful progress towards realizing a world without nuclear weapons,” she added.
She urged all countries to demonstrate the necessary political will and flexibility to ensure a successful outcome of the 2020 NPT Review Conference.
BY Melvin Tarlue