Accra, Aug. 13,
GNA – The Ghana Battalion (GHANBATT) 86, serving with the United Nations
Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL), has commemorated 60 years of Females in the Ghana Armed Forces
with an all-female drill display and women’s forum held at the battalion’s
headquarters in Al-Qawzah, South Lebanon.
The short but
spectacular drill display was among other activities that included Women’s
Combat Walk, Cultural Display/Exhibition, African Variety Night, Religious
Service and Women’s Forum, involving Women Peacekeepers from other contingents
in the mission.
This was
contained in a statement issued to the Ghana News Agency by Captain Nathanael
Asamoah, Public Information Officer, UNIFIL GHANBATT 86.
The statement
said, Chief of Mission Support, Madam Nicoleta Verestiuc, who was the Guest of
Honour, applauded the professionalism of the females in the Ghana battalion and
the Ghana Armed Forces.
She commended
Ghana for bridging the gap between men and women, especially in the military
and also recognizing the roles and contributions of women to peace, security
and development in Ghana and beyond.
She emphasized
that the Ghana Armed Forces, being the highest contributor of female troops to
the UNIFIL, has made remarkable contributions to the peacekeeping process
through gender advocacy and training, as well as civil-military cooperation,
which had been inspirational to young girls both in Lebanon and Ghana.
The Commanding
Officer of the battalion, Lieutenant Colonel Abass Atuluk extended his special
acknowledgement to the females under his command and all females of the Ghana
Armed Forces for the significant roles they had play and the numerous successes
chalked, despite various societal and cultural hurdles.
He also
conveyed to the ladies, the felicitations in a lettered message of the Chief of
Defence on the occasion of the anniversary.
The Head of
Mission and Force Commander of UNIFIL, Major General Stefano Del Col witnessed
the event as part of his maiden working visit to GHANBATT 86 since it took over
a month ago.
He was
accompanied by the Deputy Sector West Commander, Colonel Ian Bryne.
The event was
also attended by staff officers and female troops of sister battalions of
UNIFIL and the Lebanese Armed Forces.
GNA
