A parade and flag-raising ceremony was held in Accra on Monday at the forecourt of the statehouse to commemorate the International Day of United Nations Peacekeepers.
The ceremony brought together high powered personalities including; diplomatic missions and Ministers of state to observe the day.
Wreaths were laid to pay tribute to and honour UN Peacekeepers.
Mr Ambrose Dery, Minister of Interior laid the first wreath on behalf of government and Ghanaians, while the second wreath was laid by Ms Christine Evans-Klock, the UN Resident Coordinator to Ghana on behalf of the UN.
Major Retired Derick Oduro, Deputy Minister of Defence, laid the third wreath on behalf of the Ghana Armed Forces and other security agencies while Mrs Vivian Glawu laid the fourth wreath on behalf of the fallen heroes.
This year’s event was marked on the theme “United Nations Peacekeeping: “Investing in Peace Around the World”.
May 29 was chosen because, on that day in 1948, the first UN Peacekeeping Mission, the UN Truce Supervision Organization, began operations with a group of military observers.
The Day is also to commemorate more than 50 years of dedication and sacrifice by peacekeepers serving under the UN’s blue flag around the world to build confidence, reconcile warring parties and relieving suffering.
Mr Dery said the day was to pay tribute to all the men and women who have served and continued to serve in UN peacekeeping operations for their high level of professionalism, dedication and courage.
He said in the country’s commitment to international peace and security, Ghana had always participated in UN peacekeeping operations and had maintained an enviable position in the ranking of troop and police contributing countries to UN peacekeeping operations.
Mr Dery said intra-state conflicts required a multi-dimensional approach in global attempts to find solutions and those approaches have led to an expansion of the non-military component of peacekeeping operations.
Madam Christine Evans-Klock, UN Resident Coordinator to Ghana said the UN was working hard to make all peacekeeping operations cost-effective as well as find ways to reform, restructure and drive costs down.
“UN has also prioritised ensuring that women play a far more active role in peace operations as troops, police and civilian staff”, she added.
Source: GNA
