Ghana wins 15 awards at UN conference

Accra, June 17, GNA - Ghana won 15 awards at this year's model United Nations (UN) Conferences held at the UN headquarters in New York and US State Department in Washington DC.

Both conferences were attended by about 1,800 children from 30 UN member states.

Thirty-four children from selected schools in Accra, Kumasi and Tema represented Ghana at the New York conference where they won six awards while 18 children at the Washington conference won nine awards.

It is the eighth time Ghana has participated in the annual conference held in major cities where UN offices are located.

Ghana's participation was under the auspices of Lifelink Friendship Schools.

Mocking United Nations diplomats, the children in both conferences negotiated, discussed and adopted motions on global security issues, HIV/AIDS, climate change, women and micro-finance, refugees and the situation in North Korea.

A statement issued and copied to Ghana News Agency in Accra, said Mr Ban Ki-Moon, UN Secretary-General, in a speech read for him, said the daunting and complex nature of global challenges had necessitated concerted efforts by progressive nations in the world.

He said no single nation or group, no matter how powerful, could take on the major issues of the world.

Mr Ban, therefore, applauded efforts to inculcate the spirit of working together among children in the world.

He commended the participants for the desire to acquaint themselves with the complexity of international relations.

An official of US State Department, who represented US Secretary of State, Hillary Clinton pledged support of the US Government for the work of the UN.

Mr Ernest Gyimah-Danquah, Executive Director of Lifelink Friendship Schools Ghana, expressed appreciation to the US Embassy in Accra, the High Commissions of Canada and Switzerland and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Regional Integration for their invaluable support for Ghana's active participation over the years.