The UN has lauded Ghana’s contribution to maintenance of peace and stability across the world through peacekeeping missions.
Ghana is ranked seventh among troop-contributing countries in the world.
The acting UN Resident Coordinator, Osama Makkawi Khogali, said “Ghana has long been a steadfast pillar of UN peacekeeping efforts with a distinguished legacy dating back to the early 1960s”.
“Today, we proudly recognise Ghana’s remarkable contributions, as the nation ranks seventh among 122 troop-contributing countries—a testament to its enduring commitment to global peace and security,” he added.
Mr Khogali said that the contribution of Ghanaian peacekeepers transcended duty; it depicted a profound calling to uphold the values of humanity, solidarity and hope in the world’s most challenging environments.
Ceremony
Mr Khogali was speaking at a flag-raising ceremony to commemorate the 77th International Day of UN Peacekeepers in Accra yesterday, on the theme: “The future of peacekeeping: Strengthening partnership and multilateralism in Ghana and beyond”.
It was organised by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MFA) in collaboration with the Ghana Armed Forces (GAF).
The ceremony aimed at paying tribute to security and civilian peacekeepers who lost their lives in the process, while complimenting those who had served, and continued to serve in UN peacekeeping missions.
In attedance were members of the diplomatic corps and high-ranking officials of MFA and GAF, as well as the Minister of State in-Charge of Government Communication, Felix Ofosu Kwakye, who was the guest speaker.
Tribute
Mr Khogali paid tribute to the 57 peacekeepers who lost their lives last year, including two Ghanaian soldiers – Sergeant Evans Kyere and Warrant Officer II David Kwame Amankwah.
He added that the two “fallen heroes” would later this year be conferred with the “Dag Hammarskjold Medals” in a ceremony in New York.
Mr Khogali further congratulated Squadron Leader Sharon Syme, a Ghanaian soldier, for receiving the 2024 Military Gender Advocate of the Year Award.
He emphasised the importance of partnerships and multilateralism in peacekeeping, including the need for unity, collaboration and intentional action to address evolving security threats.
Mr Khogali said there was the need for investment in training and capacity building to equip peacekeepers with modern tools and increase funding for crisis management, among others.
Commitment
For his part, Mr Kwakye said the country would continue to advocate a more robust and inclusive multilateral system because multilateralism, though imperfect, was still the best tool to sustain peacekeeping efforts in an increasingly fractured world.
He urged world leaders to recommit to collective action to fully resource missions, equip them with robust mandates, and stand united with the brave women and men who risked their lives to protect civilians.
The minister said there was the need to ensure that peacekeeping operations thrived even in the most challenging environment.
“Our contribution to global peace has been tremendous.
Our brave men and women peacekeepers have, through their dedication in Liberia, South Sudan and beyond, demonstrated to the world that lasting stability is achievable under even the most difficult circumstances,” he said.
Mr Kwakye also said that commemoration of the peacekeepers’ day must serve as a reminder that it was only through a shared vision of human dignity that “we can uphold the worth of every individual and build a more secure world”.