Let’s harness alternative forms of mediation – Foreign Minister

World leaders have been urged to address emerging challenges to peace and security by harnessing alternative forms of mediation and tackling the root causes of conflict, such as youth unemployment, inequality in all forms, and marginalisation.

Ms Shirley Ayorkor Botchwey, Minister for Foreign Affairs and Regional Integration, speaking at this year’s International Day of United Nations Peacekeepers’ Flag-Raising and Wreath-Laying ceremony in Accra, said peace is attainable through the collaboration with partners and other actors.

The 70th-anniversary celebration under the theme, “UN Peacekeepers: 70 Years of Service and Sacrifice” has brought together security officers, International Diplomatic Corps and Ministers of State, Traditional Rulers from Ga Traditional Areas and the public.

The occasion was also used to honour Lance Corporal Emmanuel Sekyi and Staff Sargent Attayiri Boniface, the two fallen Ghanaian Officers in 2017.

She said: “While we work to fully implement Goal 16 of the SDG, which appropriately links Peace, Justice and Strong Institutions, we need to partner with experts who serve on and off the field, Civil Society Organisations, Non-Governmental Organisations and the Private Sector to achieve our goal”.

Ms Botchwey noted that peace, security, development and human rights are interlinked and mutually reinforcing, in as much as, conflict prevention is critical and remains paramount for national stability.

“We must, therefore, strengthen partnership with regional and sub-regional organisations and engage in peacebuilding from national and regional perspectives with cross-cutting issues, including those focusing on youth empowerment and gender equality.

“In the wake of the ever-evolving trends of conflict management and peacekeeping, there should be a paradigm shift in our approach by expanding the pool of actors in those disciplines. In this regards, the central role of women and their potential in peacebuilding cannot be overstated,” she added.

The Minister underscored the need to reflect on the extremely challenging environments within which peacekee.