Ben
In March of this year, the United Nations ranked Ghana seventh out of 122 contributing countries in peacekeeping (UN).
As of March, the total number of peacekeepers deployed globally by the UN was 76,712, with 70,257 males and 6,455 females. Out of the 6,455 women deployed, Ghana accounted for 429, making it the fourth highest in the world and second in Africa in terms of women’s deployment. Ghana has deployed 2,762 peacekeepers to various parts of the world.
During commemorating the 75th International Day of UN Peacekeepers in Accra, the UN Resident Coordinator, Charles Abani, praised Ghana for its unwavering commitment to peacekeeping since the 1960s. He highlighted the recent recognition of 700 Ghanaian peacekeepers, including 68 women, who were awarded the prestigious UN medal for their dedication to peacekeeping efforts.
A flag-raising and wreath-laying ceremony was held at the forecourt of the State House in Accra, organized by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Regional Integration (MFARI). The event honored men and women who have dedicated their lives to upholding peace and security worldwide and paid tribute to fallen peacekeepers. A symbolic tree-planting exercise was also conducted to honor peacekeepers who lost their lives in the line of duty.
During the event, Mr. Abani emphasized that the commitment and sacrifices of peacekeepers cannot be measured monetarily, as some have paid the ultimate price for peace under the UN flag. He called for collective action and emphasized that peace begins with individuals and communities.
The Deputy Minister of Defence, Kofi Amankwa-Manu, urged everyone to support peacekeeping operations by providing necessary resources and empowering peacekeepers with the tools to carry out their missions.
Thomas Mbomba, the Deputy Minister of the MFARI, highlighted the importance of strengthening partnerships between the UN and regional and sub-regional bodies such as the African Union (AU) and the European Union (EU). He also announced Ghana would host the upcoming Peacekeeping Ministerial Conference in December of this year.
_
Source: Omanghana.com
