Accra: African states have renewed their calls for the universal adoption of the Treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons (TPNW), emphasizing the need for sustainable global security based on cooperation and respect for human life, rather than reliance on weapons of mass destruction.
According to Ghana News Agency, the call was made during the West and Central African Regional Conference on the Universalisation and Implementation of the TPNW held in Accra. The conference brought together representatives from governments across the sub-region, international and regional organizations, and civil society actors to push forward efforts toward a nuclear-free world.
Ambassador Jrgen Heissel, Head of Mission of the Austrian Embassy to Ghana and Chairperson of the Conference, emphasized that the Accra meeting aimed to reinvigorate global nuclear disarmament efforts amid rising geopolitical tensions and weakening international arms control norms. He highlighted that the majority of states worldwide had already signed or acceded to the treaty and hoped the conference would galvanize collective action toward disarmament and reinforce multilateral cooperation.
Ambassador Khadija Iddrisu, Chief Director of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Regional Integration, reiterated Africa's rejection of nuclear weapons, rooted in the belief that peace and security cannot coexist with such destructive arms. She noted that while Africa does not produce or possess nuclear weapons, the continent has suffered from militarization, conflict, and global power rivalries. She reflected on Ghana's historic role in advocating for disarmament, citing the vision of the country's first President, Osagyefo Dr. Kwame Nkrumah.
Dr. Adedeji Ebo, Director and Deputy to the UN High Representative for Disarmament Affairs, stated that Africa has both a moral responsibility and strategic interest in advocating for global nuclear disarmament. He mentioned the Treaty of Pelindaba, which established Africa as a nuclear-weapon-free zone, granting the continent strong moral authority in multilateral disarmament efforts. However, he cautioned that Africa is not immune to nuclear threats, referencing the harm caused by nuclear tests in the Sahara during the 1960s.
Ms. C©line Nahory, Director of Government Relations and Advocacy at the International Campaign to Abolish Nuclear Weapons (ICAN), congratulated Ghana for becoming the latest state party to the treaty and commended African states for their role in negotiating and adopting the TPNW in 2017. She highlighted the ongoing threat posed by the existence of nuclear weapons and urged West and Central African states that have not yet joined the treaty to do so before its first Review Conference in November 2026, under the presidency of South Africa.
The conference aims to assess progress under the TPNW, encourage further ratifications, and underline the humanitarian consequences of nuclear weapon use. Adopted by 122 countries in 2017 and in force since January 2021, the treaty has garnered support from 140 states at the UN General Assembly, with over half of UN member states having signed, ratified, or acceded to it.