President John Dramani Mahama has arrived in Belgrade, Serbia, to take part in a high-level meeting marking the Non-Aligned Movement’s (NAM) 65th anniversary.
Serbian President Aleksandar Vučić is organizing the meeting, which brings together leaders and representatives to reflect on the movement’s history, principles, and ongoing significance.
President Mahama’s involvement highlights Ghana’s enduring connection to the Non-Aligned Movement and the nation’s historical role in its establishment and evolution.
Ghana was one of the founding members of NAM in 1961, when nations emerging from colonial rule sought to adopt independent foreign policies based on the principles of sovereignty, non-interference, and peaceful coexistence.
Ghana’s link to the movement is closely associated with the country’s first President, Dr. Kwame Nkrumah, who significantly influenced the vision that ultimately led to the creation of NAM.
Dr. Nkrumah collaborated with other prominent leaders of the time, including former Yugoslav President Josip Broz Tito, former Indian Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru, former Egyptian President Gamal Abdel Nasser, and former Indonesian President Sukarno.
These leaders played a crucial role in promoting the concept of a collective platform for nations that preferred not to align with either of the dominant power blocs during the Cold War.
The movement was officially founded in 1961 in Belgrade, which renders the Serbian capital particularly important to its historical context.
Since its inception, the Non-Aligned Movement has developed and continues to serve as a forum for developing nations to align their positions on international political, economic, and security issues.
Its foundational principles encompassed respect for national sovereignty and territorial integrity, a stance against colonialism and racial discrimination, and the advocacy for peaceful resolutions to international conflicts.
The 65th anniversary gathering in Belgrade offers a chance for participating nations to contemplate these principles while evaluating the movement’s role in tackling current global challenges.
