NANA ONNWONA ASUAKO KWAPONG CALLS FOR DIPLOMACY AND STRONGER SECURITY INVESTMENT.

Nana Onnwona Asuako Kwapong has emphasized the importance of diplomacy and global cooperation in resolving international conflicts during his interview with Nana Nhyiraba Kwabena Asrifi on Ghana Nti Today on ICAD TV. Upholding UN Principles He noted that as a member of the United Nations, Ghana subscribes to the core principle of maintaining international peace and security among member states. Referring to the Russia–Ukraine conflict, he pointed out that Russia is a founding member of the UN, yet went ahead to attack Ukraine, raising concerns about adherence to the organisation’s founding principles. “Whenever there is misunderstanding, we are not supposed to take up arms. We are expected to follow diplomatic processes under the UN framework,” he stressed. He explained that the United Nations was built on foundational principles aimed at preventing war and encouraging dialogue whenever disputes arise between nations. Diplomacy Over Armed Conflict According to Nana Onnwona, global conflicts should always be addressed first through peaceful negotiations, dialogue, and international mediation rather than military confrontation. He reiterated that the same principle applies across all nations — that disagreements should not automatically result in war. Defence Spending and Security Touching on Africa’s security structure, he observed that many developing countries do not spend sufficiently on defence relative to their GDP, which limits their ability to independently secure their territories. “Once you increase defence spending based on your GDP, you strengthen your security capacity,” he explained. However, he acknowledged that because many African countries have limited defence budgets, they rely heavily on international partners for support. Conclusion He concluded by emphasizing that peace, diplomacy, and strategic investment in national security are crucial in today’s interconnected world. According to him, while global alliances are important, African nations must also strengthen their internal systems to better safeguard their sovereignty and stability.