The Government of Ghana and the Government of Rwanda have unveiled two permanent monuments at Burma Camp in Accra to honour the extraordinary courage and sacrifice of Ghanaian peacekeepers who served under the United Nations Assistance Mission for Rwanda (UNAMIR) during the 1994 Genocide against the Tutsi.
The monuments, constructed by the Government of Rwanda, commemorate the bravery of members of the Ghana Armed Forces who remained in Rwanda at the height of the genocide, risking their own lives to protect thousands of civilians when many international forces had withdrawn.
The unveiling ceremony was led by Ghana’s Foreign Affairs Minister Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa and Rwanda’s Minister of Justice, Dr. Emmanuel Ugirashebuja, who jointly laid wreaths in memory of the more than one million victims of the genocide.
Speaking at the ceremony, the Ghanaian minister for Foreign Affairs and Regional Integration, Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa described the occasion as “a profound honour and a moment of great pride,” praising the Government and people of Rwanda for immortalising the sacrifices of Ghanaian peacekeepers.
“The Government of Ghana highly commends the Government and friendly people of Rwanda for constructing these two significant monuments at Burma Camp as an enduring symbol of their appreciation and eternal remembrance of the leadership and sacrifices of the Ghana Armed Forces to protect Rwandan lives,” he said.
He noted that the monuments stand as a lasting tribute to the exceptional leadership of Major General Henry Kwami Anyidoho and the Ghanaian contingent, who remained in Rwanda despite the deteriorating security situation.
According to the minister, countless lives were saved through the courage of the Ghanaian peacekeepers and the decision by the Government of former President Jerry John Rawlings not to withdraw Ghana’s troops when many other countries chose to do so.
He also recalled that Major General Henry Kwami Anyidoho had previously been awarded Rwanda’s highest national honour for bravery by President Paul Kagame in recognition of his distinguished service during the genocide.
Expressing gratitude to Rwanda, the minister said the monuments reflected the country’s enduring appreciation for Ghana’s contribution to protecting innocent lives during one of history’s darkest chapters.
He concluded by expressing the hope that the memorials would continue to inspire future generations to reject genocide, hatred, bigotry and division, while strengthening the shared commitment of both nations to peace, humanity and justice.
Story: Patrick Asford Boadu
