UN Peacekeeping Day commemorated in Accra

Accra, May 29, GNA - A flag-raising and wreath laying ceremony was held in Accra on Monday in honour of 124 fallen peacekeepers on peacekeeping operations as part of activities marking International Day of United Nations Peacekeepers.

Wreaths were laid to pay tribute to and honour UN Peacekeepers. May 29 was chosen because on that day in 1948, the first UN Peacekeeping Mission, the UN Truce Supervision Organization, began operations with a group of military observers.

The Day is also to commemorate more than 50 years of dedication and sacrifice by peacekeepers serving under the UN's blue flag around the world to build confidence, reconcile warring parties and relieve suffering.

This year's commemoration was under the theme: "Keeping the Peace Without Arms".

Mr William Ofori-Boafo, Deputy Minister of Defence, called on the international community to find new ways of removing causes of conflicts within and among nations.

"This will reduce the untold human suffering and hardships that are usually visited on the vulnerable during such occasions." He said there was the need for Africa to avoid conflicts by showing deeper commitment to regional integration and good governance for the growth and development of its citizens.

Mr Ofori-Boafo said Government had over the years demonstrated its determination and commitment to regional and sub-regional peace building process by providing troops to serve in various missions aimed at finding lasting solutions to conflicts.

He said celebration of the day, by UN was a testimony of the global significance of peacekeeping and the acknowledgement of the immense contributions peacekeepers had made towards world peace and security since its establishment.

The Deputy Minister said establishment of the Kofi Annan Peacekeeping Centre in the country was a demonstration of Ghana's continual commitment towards global peace and security. He said the Centre had in no small way built the capacity of peacekeepers in international affairs and the dynamics of peacekeeping at the operational level to respond to the changing trends of regional conflict management.

Mr Dauda Toure, UN Resident Co-Coordinator, read a speech on behalf of the UN Secretary-General in which Busumuru Kofi Annan called on all nations to reaffirm their commitment to building a world free from the scourge of war.

He said it was important that on the day of international peacekeeping, tributes were paid to men and women across the world who had served selflessly and tirelessly in peacekeeping operations. Five Ghanaian peacekeepers are to be honoured by the UN as part of activities marking this year's Day.

Commander Seth Amoama, currently serving with the UN Department of Peacekeeping Operations in New York, will receive a peacekeeping service medal at a ceremony to be held at the UN Headquarters on Wednesday. Four other Ghanaians who died while on duty at different UN missions would be honoured posthumously.

They are Corporal Christian Azumah Mensah who died on April 2, 2005 in Liberia, Staff Sergeant Mark Akpor who died in La Cote d'Ivoire on March 19, 2005, Sergeant Emmanuel Megbetor who died in Congo on September 4, 2005 and Chief Inspector Robert Amoako who died in Haiti on November 21, 2005. 29 May 06