Ghana has hosted Africa’s first United Nations Peacekeeping Ministerial Meeting in Accra on Wednesday December 6, 2023.
The conference is being attended by Ministers of Foreign Affairs and Defence of UN Member States, Heads of Delegation, and Senior Officials of the United Nations.
Addressing the opening ceremony, H. E. Dr. Alhaji Mahamudu Bawumia, the Vice President of Ghana, stated that the gathering holds significant importance in fostering international cooperation for the noble cause of global peace.
He stated that Accra has been abuzz with dialogue and collaboration over the past day, and expressed his gratitude for the continued commitment to the cause of global peace.
“Our collective mission is to explore and navigate the gaps in peacekeeping, evaluate options for meaningful change, and, most importantly, work towards concrete outcomes that will enhance the effectiveness of peacekeeping operations worldwide,” he stated.
He noted that the 2023 UN Peacekeeping Ministerial Conference is not just a meeting; it is a pivotal moment where Foreign and Defence Ministers are deliberating on strategies to strengthen UN peacekeeping.
“In line with ongoing reform efforts, particularly the Action for Peacekeeping (A4P, A4P+) and the Digital Transformation Strategy, our objective is clear — to generate high-performing and specialized capabilities, fostering sustainable partnerships, and charting a course towards a more robust and responsive peacekeeping apparatus,” he said.
Dr. Bawumia stated that as we embark on this journey, it is essential to recognize the diverse challenges faced by UN peacekeepers and peacekeeping missions.
“Therefore, the agenda of our Ministerial Meeting places a focused lens on critical aspects, including the protection of civilians, strategic communications, safety and security, the mental health of peacekeepers, and the indispensable role of women in peacekeeping,” he stated.
The UN Under Secretary General for Peace Operations, USG Lacroix, in his opening statement on behalf of the Secretary-General said that Ghana is the sixth largest contributor of UN troops and police as well as an elected member of the Security Council.
He stated that its peacekeepers have an exemplary track record, and it is one of the few troop-contributing countries that has met the uniformed gender parity targets for troops, police and staff officers. He applauded Ghana for playing such a significant role in maintaining international peace and security and also applauded the outstanding organization of this meeting.
He stated that for 75 years, United Nations peacekeepers have saved and improved lives in the world’s most fragile political and security situations.
“They are working in difficult and, often very dangerous, conditions to achieve extraordinary outcomes for the communities they serve,” he stated.
Mr. Lacroix stated that the contribution of the two million women and men who have served since the first peacekeeping mission was deployed in 1948 is immense.
“They have helped many countries successfully navigate the difficult path from war to peace, from Liberia and Namibia, to Cambodia, Sierra Leone, Timor Leste and many other countrie.
Our operations have an exceptionally strong record of preventing and reducing violence as well as preventing repeat wars from recurring.
“Peacekeeping operations also continue to preserve ceasefires, protect civilians, mediate local conflicts, and strengthen institutions, wherever and whenever possible. UNIFIL, for example, supports efforts to de-escalate tensions along the Blue Line between Israel and Lebanon, including by liaising with both sides.
“And every single day, peacekeepers protect hundreds of thousands of civilians, in places like the Democratic Republic of Congo, South Sudan and the Central African Republic.
“We are all exceptionally proud of peacekeepers’ personal sacrifice and achievements in extremely challenging situations and conditions.
“I would like to take this opportunity to express our sincerest thanks to all the troop and police contributors with us today. And I would like to pay tribute to the memory of all peacekeepers who have sacrificed their lives, particularly the 311 peacekeeping personnel who died in the service of peace in Mali, including 174 who died in hostile acts,” he said.
