Ghana has been recognized as the ninth largest contributor of uniformed personnel to united nation’s peace keeping operations. The country so far has provided nearly two thousand eight hundred military and police personnel to UN peace operations in the Republic of Congo, Lebanon, Mali, the Middle East, Somalia, Sudan, South Sudan and the Western Sahara.
Addressing both serving and retired security agencies and a section of the public in Accra as Ghana joins the rest of the world to commemorate this year’s International Day of UN Peacekeepers, Acting Resident Coordinator of the UN, Dr. Owen Kaluwa, outlined the numerous sacrifices of peacekeepers in their quest to protecting lives in conflict – affected countries across the world.
“Since 1948, when the first UN peacekeeping mission was established, more than 3,800 peacekeepers have lost their lives. Last year alone, we lost 98 peacekeepers, including two Ghanaians: Frank Sammy Kwofie who served as the Deputy Commissioner of Police at the United Nations African Union Mission in Darfur (UNAMID), and Corporal Mercy Adade who served with the UN Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL).”
Dr. Kaluwa also affirmed importance of peacekeeping which he indicated was a vital investment in global peace and security adding that “but it requires strong and international commitment. That is why we launched the “Action for Peacekeeping “initiative, which aims to make our missions stronger, safer and fit for the future. For millions in conflict – affected situations around the world, peacekeeping is a necessity and a hope. Let us work together to make peacekeeping more effective in protecting people and advancing peace.”
Defense Minister, Dominic Nitiwul urged Ghanaians to safeguard the relative peace in the country and acknowledged the enormous contributions by Ghanaian uniformed and civilian personnel for their sacrifices in the peacekeeping operations.
“We salute this gallant men and women and encourage them to guard strongly our legacy in peacekeeping operations. I wish also to express our deepest condolences to the families of fallen peacekeepers who have endured the pain of losing their relatives however close or distant for the course of peace. Last year for example Ghana has to endure the lives of two noble officers; Corporal Mercy Adade and Assistant Commissioner of Police, Frank Sammy Kwofie. This year again we lost one of our illustrious sons, Major General Francis Vib-Sanziri, the United Nation’s Force Commander in Syria. The immense contributions and sacrifices of the families of these peacekeepers to the overall peacekeeping architecture particularly of the UN cannot be overemphasized.”
Meanwhile the 2019 International Day of UN Peacekeepers which marks the 20th anniversary when for the first time the UN Security Council mandated a peacekeeping mission to protect lives was under the theme “Protecting Civilians, Protecting Peace.”
Story By: Henry George Martinson/radiogoldlive.com
