Ghana's election to the UN Security Council is based on confidence

Accra, Sept. 20, GNA 96 Mr Akwasi Osei-Adjei, Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs, Regional Integration and NEPAD on Wednesday said Ghana's election to the United Nation's Security Council was based on the confidence reposed in her by member countries.

In addition, was the recognition of the positive role she continued to play in fostering peace and stability in West Africa and the world through peacekeeping activities.

Mr Adjei made the observation when addressing the opening session of a day's symposium on the International Day of Peace organized by West African Network for Peace Building (WANEP) at the Kofi Annan International Peacekeeping and Training Centre at Teshie near Accra. The symposium was on the theme "Reflecting on the Security Council Presidency of Ghana: The Role of the Security Council in Peace and Security in Africa and beyond and the Implications of Reform." It was to raise information about the role of the Security Council and its functions, the current reform debate, and implications of such reform on conflicts in Africa and the world.

The Deputy Minister said Ghana by her membership of the Council, would play a major role in the maintenance of global peace and security, adding to ensure a successful term of membership, we must continue to court good working relations with other council members without compromising the nation's principled position on issues that come before the Council.

He pledged Ghana's commitment to work efficiently and consistently and to adhere to generally agreed principles to make her mark in the Council, the UN and on the international scene. Mr Osei-Adjei said as a non-permanent member of the Security Council, Ghana intended to ensure greater transparency in decision-making of the Council and better accountability to member states for actions to be taken, as well as ensure a smarter and effective sanctions regime that had minimum negative impact on "innocent" populations and third states.

Ghana would also seek to ensure better appreciation by members of the Council of the African perspective in relation to mandates for African peacekeeping missions and make sure that the Department of Peacekeeping Operations and the Council increase their pre-mission planning consultations with potential troop-contributing countries in the establishment of mandates.

Mr Osei-Adjei noted that as impressive as Ghana's broad objectives on the Security Council might be, she was conscious of the varied and complex nature of the Council's work and had therefore, adopted a pragmatic line of action to identify areas of primary national interest on which to focus her energies and limited resources.

He said Ghana saw a strong and effective United Nations as a means of attaining her own policy objectives.

"Ghana sees a strong and effective UN as a means of attaining her own policy objectives such as the peaceful resolution of disputes, disarmament and arms control, the protection of human rights, respect for the rule of law and the promotion of the socio-economic advancement of Ghanaians in particular and Africans in general", he said.

The Deputy Minister said in contributing her quota to the realization of the goals of the UN, Ghana had demonstrated a history of commitment to maintaining international peace and security because the nation had realized the vital link between peace and stability on one hand, and sustainable development and poverty eradication on the other.

A 1981 UN resolution established the International Day of Peace that falls on September 21, as a focal point for uniting communities and peace inspiring events.

The Day provides an opportunity for individuals, organizations and nations to create practical acts of peace on a shared date to promote global ceasefire and non-violence.