Ghana
Annan opens exhibition on 40 years of Ghanaian peacekeeping missions

afrol.com, 7 July - UN Secretary-General Kofi Annan today officially opened an exhibition on United Nations Peacekeeping in Accra and presented the booklet: “Ghana: Four Decades of UN and Regional Peacekeeping”.

The Secretary-General, himself a Ghanaian, opened by thanking Ghanaian President for the support for the United Nations.

- I am proud to know that Ghana – our Ghana, my Ghana - can be relied on to play its full part. Ghana’s commitment to the United Nations has long been plain for the world to see. Today, we see that commitment documented before us. 

It is a story almost as long as the history of independent Ghana itself. And like much of Ghana's history, it is a story of ordinary men and women who have done extraordinary things. It began 40 years ago, when Ghana was one of the first countries to dispatch troops to Congo, just 48 hours after the United Nations Security Council passed its resolution establishing its mission there. 

- Since that day, Ghanaian troops have gone on to distinguish themselves by their courage and their professionalism, Annan said. Ghanaians have served in 29 United Nations peacekeeping operations around the world, as well as in the Economic Community of West African States' Monitoring Observer Group (ECOMOG) in Liberia and Sierra Leone. In United Nations peacekeeping alone, 98 Ghanaians have made the ultimate sacrifice, giving their lives in the service of peace.

Exhibition of photos
- If every picture tells a story, this exhibition tells many striking tales, Annan commented. And all of them show the special combination of qualities that every peacekeeper needs: loyalty matched by initiative; courage coupled with humility. 

Take the example of Major General Henry Kwami Anyidoho. In the darkest hour of Rwanda's tragedy, when the order came for the United Nations to withdraw, he at once decided to stay on with a small residual force. As he has since recounted, it was a hard decision to explain to the troops. But the reason was very simple: they had a job to do. They could not run away, leaving the victims of genocide to their fate. 

Or take Major Comfort Ankomah-Danso: a wife, a mother, and a veteran of United Nations missions in Liberia, Lebanon and Rwanda. She admits that women were not always fully welcomed on these missions by their male colleagues or superiors. But, she says, since peace is the only thing that can save this planet, and since women make up more than half the planet's population, then of course women must take part in peacekeeping. 

Or let us learn from the wisdom of Lieutenant-General Emmanuel Erskine, the first commander of UNIFIL, the United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon, Annan went on. He understood, not only that Ghana had something to give to peacekeeping, but also that peacekeeping had much to give back to Ghana. 

And sure enough, Ghana’s soldiers have become more professional. They and their families enjoy a better standard of living. Their horizons have widened. They have opened up a new world view for their fellow citizens. And they have become a force for stability at home. 

Ghana's share in Middle East peacekeeping was code-named "Operation Sunrise". And I’m glad to say the sun continues to shine on our peacekeepers in the region, Annan said. Today, following Israel's withdrawal from Lebanon, another Ghanaian is in the spotlight of history as force commander of UNIFIL: Major-General Seth Kofi Obeng. Annan told, he himself saw him when he visited Lebanon last month, and they had been on the phone to each other almost every day since. General Obeng and his troops are bearing up steadfastly, under the eyes of the whole world, Annan thus confirmed. 

- As we see from these examples, Ghana’s peacekeepers have not only made a vital contribution in themselves. They can also inspire others to join in. Today, such leadership is more important than ever. In the past three years, we have seen a dramatic upsurge in United Nations peacekeeping. 

There are now 14 operations, spread across Europe, Africa and Asia. UN peacekeepers are discharging complex and often unprecedented tasks – and, despite their problems, the UN will probably be asked to do even more in the future. 

Annan underlined that Ghana's support would continue to be vital. So we should be grateful to the Government and Armed Forces for establishing this International Peacekeeping Training Centre, he said. Through it, you will be able to share your experience and expertise with other West Africans, indeed with the whole continent. And other States will bring their expertise here too. 

Annan said he was deeply honoured that the Centre had been named after him. It increases even more my sense of debt and gratitude to my native country, he stated, a debt which goes back even farther than the story of Ghana and peacekeeping. I was lucky enough to grow up during the climactic phase of Ghana's independence struggle, and to see it crowned with success.

The Secretary-General finished his speech by saying he was looking forward to summit of the Organization of African Unity (OAU) summit in Lomé on Monday, and, addressing those who are serving in the UN forces today; and above all, to those who gave their lives in the service of peace, he said, on behalf of the United Nations, “Medasi to you all." 

Source: United Nations

© afrol.com. Texts and graphics may be reproduced freely, under the condition that their origin is clearly referred to, see Conditions.    You can contact us at mail@afrol.com