UN Peacekeeping Day observed in Ghana

A Flag-Raising and Wreath Laying ceremony has been organised  in Accra to honour gallant service personnel and  UN volunteers who lost their lives on peace keeping missions. 

The occasion was also used to commemorate the United Nations International Peacekeepers' Day which fell on 29th May.
 
The Minister for the Interior Ambrose Dery  says the quest for peace some times come with great cost as brave Ghanaian men and women over the years have lost their lives in the pursuit of peace among member states of the UN.

In addition, Deputy Minister of Defence, Major (rtd) Derek Oduro and Mrs Vivian Glawu laid wreaths on behalf of the security services and bereaved families respectively.

In apparent reference to the theme of the celebration, “Invest in Peacekeeping around the World,” the Secretary General said: “today peacekeeping budget – less than one half of one per cent of global military spending is money well spent. It is a fraction of the cost of allowing conflict to spread and erode the gains of economic development.

The investment is multiplied by the economic growth and prosperity that follow from stability and security after successful peacekeeping mission.”

He said, “Demand for UN peacekeeping has risen steadily over the years and deployment is now near an all time high.

Peacekeeping has had a positive impact on the lives of millions of people around the worlds.”

Mr Derry said for over 50 years Ghana had maintained an enviable position in the ranking of troops and police contributing countries in UN peacekeeping operations,  paying glowing tribute and expressing condolences to the families of the  fallen heroes  as well as those injured.

He said the surge in the demand for complex peacekeeping operations had placed new strains on the international system, troop contributing countries, as well as the troops, who were increasingly facing grave threats.

Mr Derry used the occasion to emphasise the importance of the values of tolerance, unity and respect for the rule of law in the country’s body politics saying, “we can succeed in building a vibrant and stable democracy underpinned by a prosperous economy, only if we work relentlessly to maintain the peace  and security that we have enjoyed for decades.”

A photo exhibition displaying Ghana’s role in peacekeeping operations was mounted as part of activities to commemorate the day.

GBCONLINE