By: Sarah Baafi
The Munich Security Conference (MSC) opened on February 14, 2025, focusing on critical issues of international security and development cooperation. The theme for the conference is, “Building or Burning Bridges: Economic and Development Cooperation Amid Multipolarization.”
Leaders from around the world gathered to discuss pressing global challenges, including the state of multilateral institutions, the future of international aid, and the evolving global order and also reflects the current geopolitical landscape marked by conflict and shifting alliances.
In President John Dramani Mahama’s remarks, he highlighted the pressing need for reforms within international institutions, particularly in light of the disruption caused by the Trump administration’s cuts to USAID funding, “Before I boarded the flight to come to Munich, I issued a directive to our Minister of Finance to make adjustments in our budgets to take up the slack,” he stated.
He emphasized that the funds are critical for governance, healthcare, economic growth, and education in Africa.
The conference also explored broader concerns about the effectiveness of international institutions. Mahama called for reforms at the United Nations, stating, “We will not have the luxury to double or triple parallel activities inside the UN system. There is a need to sit together, to work together.
The conference also highlighted broader global challenges, including conflicts in Ukraine and the Middle East, while other discussions reflected a sense of urgency as multipolarity reshapes global governance.
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