World is bigger than five, Erdoğan tells Ghanaian MPs

President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, addressing the Ghanaian parliament in capital Accra on Tuesday, said 'The world is bigger than five,' in reference to the five permanent members of the U.N. Security Council, inviting African countries to join Turkey's efforts to secure unity in the face of terrorism and poverty.

He cited the U.N.'s inability to resolve the Syrian civil war due to competing priorities of the 'five,' arguing that the current state of affairs was unsustainable.

Erdoğan also added that Turkey is determined to contribute to regional peace both in Ghana and the region, and to boost economic ties.

"Both Turkey and Ghana are determined to expand mutual cooperation. There is a very obvious political will between us to do that," he said.

Erdoğan was received with an official welcoming ceremony by Ghanaian President John Dramani Mahama at the Flagstaff House after the two leaders held a joint press conference. Erdoğan reiterated that the United Nations should be reformed with regard to providing aid to underdeveloped countries and said that Turkey and African countries suffer from terrorism and must take a united stance against it. He said that over the last five years Ghana and Turkey have signed at least 18 agreements and memorandums of understanding. "Ghana is still Turkey's number four trade partner in the sub-Saharan Africa region," he said.

Erdoğan ended his speech by saying 'me da se,' 'thank you' in the local Twi language.