Ghana has renewed its call for credible investigations and sanctions following the March 2026 missile attack on its peacekeepers serving in Lebanon, Foreign Affairs Minister Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa has announced.
Mr. Ablakwa made the remarks after participating in a ministerial session on peacekeeping reforms in Rabat on Thursday, May 21, at the invitation of the foreign ministers of Morocco and France. The high‑level meeting brought together foreign ministers, UN officials and peacekeeping experts to discuss the future of global peace operations amid declining financial support.
Background: Ghanaian Peacekeepers Targeted in March Attack
On March 6, the Ghanaian Battalion Headquarters with the United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL) came under missile attack amid escalating tensions between the Israel Defense Forces and Hezbollah in southern Lebanon.
- Two Ghanaian soldiers sustained critical injuries
- Another officer suffered psychological trauma
- The battalion’s Officers’ Mess was completely destroyed
Ghana Demands Accountability
Mr. Ablakwa said the Rabat meeting issued a communiqué stressing the urgent need to protect peace operations, especially those serving vulnerable populations in conflict zones.
“I renewed Ghana’s demand for credible investigations and sanctions following the March attack of our peacekeepers in Lebanon,” he stated.
Ghana Showcases Leadership in Peacekeeping Reform
The minister chaired the ministerial panel on peacekeeping training strategies, where he highlighted Ghana’s long‑standing contributions to global peacekeeping since its first deployment in 1960.
He also celebrated Anita Asmah, describing her as Africa’s first female UN peacekeeping Head of Mission and Force Commander, and called for increased female participation in peace operations.
“The current 10% female participation cannot be our best,” he said.
Commitment to Global Peace and Security
As a member of the Governing Council of the Kofi Annan International Peacekeeping Training Centre, Mr. Ablakwa praised the institution’s role in promoting professional, multicultural and gender‑inclusive peacekeeping training.
He reaffirmed Ghana’s support for UN Security Council Resolution 2719 and pledged that Ghana would continue to uphold its reputation as one of the world’s top troop‑contributing nations.
“We remain absolutely proud of our blue berets and salute them for their extraordinary bravery in protecting the vulnerable across numerous theatres of conflict,” he said.
—CitiNewsRoom
