President John Dramani Mahama has begun his engagements on the sidelines of the 81st United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) in New York with a meeting with Alex Soros, Chairman and Founder of the Open Society Foundations (OSF).
The meeting, held on Sunday, September 20, 2026, formed part of President Mahama’s engagements ahead of the high-level activities of the United Nations General Assembly, with the General Debate scheduled to begin on Tuesday, September 22.
The 81st session is being held under the theme, “Restoring Trust, Managing Transformation: A United Nations That Delivers for All.” Editorial Standards
Discussions between President Mahama and Mr Soros focused on potential areas of cooperation between Ghana, the Open Society Foundations and regional integration efforts under the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS).
Alex Soros, an investor and philanthropist who has previously engaged with President Mahama, and the Open Society Foundations are interested in exploring opportunities to partner with Ghana and support initiatives aimed at strengthening the ECOWAS integration agenda.
The latest meeting builds on previous discussions between the Ghanaian President and Mr Soros.
In July 2025, the two held talks in Ghana on economic recovery, democratic governance and regional stability, with Mr Soros expressing interest in supporting further regional integration efforts.
The discussions in New York are expected to form part of broader engagements between Ghana and international foundations as the Mahama administration seeks partnerships around regional integration, development and other areas of mutual interest. Editorial Ethics & Independence
ECOWAS integration remains an important regional issue, particularly as West African countries continue discussions around cooperation, movement of people and goods, trade and relations among member states.
Sunday’s meeting also served as a precursor to a planned presidential roundtable being coordinated by the Open Society Foundations with a select group of global foundation presidents and chief executive officers.
In a social media post, President Mahama said the roundtable is expected to bring together leaders from major international foundations and organisations, including the Gates Foundation, Ford Foundation, Open Society Foundations, Hewlett Packard, Hilton, Rockefeller, Humanity United, Anglo American, Chandler and UBS Optimus, among others.
The planned discussions provide an opportunity for Ghana to engage international philanthropic and development organisations on areas where partnerships could support national and regional priorities.
Such engagements are also part of the wider diplomatic activity surrounding the annual UN General Assembly, where governments use the presence of global leaders and institutions to advance discussions on international cooperation.
The United Nations has identified the 81st General Assembly as an opportunity for world leaders to address interconnected global challenges and strengthen multilateral cooperation.
The General Debate will run from September 22 to 26 and resume on September 28.
President Mahama is also scheduled to host a side event on reparatory justice on Wednesday, September 23. Corrections Policy
The event will focus on “From Commitments to Action on Reparatory Justice: Advancing International Cooperation for the Return and Restitution of Cultural Properties and Heritage.”
The subject is expected to bring attention to international cooperation on the return and restitution of cultural properties and heritage, while providing Ghana with a platform to participate in discussions on historical justice and cultural heritage.
The President is scheduled to deliver Ghana’s official statement during the main General Debate of the United Nations General Assembly on Thursday, September 24.
His participation comes as heads of state and government gather at the UN Headquarters in New York for the high-level week.
According to the United Nations, the General Debate is the principal platform during which leaders address the international community and outline their countries’ priorities in the context of global challenges.
President Mahama’s New York programme therefore combines formal United Nations engagements with bilateral and institutional meetings involving international organisations and foundations. Newscard
The engagement with Alex Soros is particularly linked to Ghana’s interest in strengthening regional integration, while the planned roundtable broadens the scope to potential cooperation with international philanthropic institutions.
For Ghana, the meetings provide an avenue to discuss development priorities and regional cooperation with actors outside traditional government-to-government diplomacy.
The outcome of such engagements will depend on subsequent discussions and any concrete partnerships that may emerge from them.
As the 81st UN General Assembly moves into its high-level phase, President Mahama’s scheduled activities will place Ghana’s positions on regional integration, development, reparatory justice and international cooperation before a broad international audience.