The UN officials and ministers with Vice President Dr. Bawumia
Vice President Mahamudu Bawumia has reiterated government’s continued support for United Nations peacekeeping operations across the world.
Dr. Bawumia reaffirmed the commitment at the 75th UN Peacekeeping Ministerial Conference in Accra yesterday.
Speaking at the event, he urged Member States of the UN to forge partnerships for the betterment of global peace and security.
“Our commitment to strengthening UN peacekeeping remains unwavering, and we anticipate that the partnerships formed during this Ministerial Meeting will contribute significantly to the betterment of peacekeeping operations globally.
“Let us seize this opportunity to forge new partnerships, deepen existing collaborations, and lay the groundwork for a more secure and peaceful world,” was how he put it.
The 2023 UN Peacekeeping Ministerial Conference in Accra is the first-ever to be held on the African continent.
It is aimed at charting ways to strengthen peacekeeping missions worldwide.
More than 600 delegates including Foreign and Defence Ministers of the UN Member States, academia, UN staff and journalists across the globe are attending the conference.
Dr. Bawumia underscored the need for Member States of the UN to explore and navigate the gaps in peacekeeping, evaluate options for meaningful change, and most importantly work towards concrete outcomes for effective peacekeeping operations globally.
“We stand proud to be the host nation for this year’s UN Peacekeeping Ministerial Meeting, the first country in Africa to do so. This is a gathering that holds significant importance in fostering international cooperation for the noble cause of global peace,” Dr. Bawumia said.
In line with ongoing reform efforts, particularly the Action for Peacekeeping (A4P, A4P+) and the Digital Transformation Strategy at the UN, he said “our objective is clear — to generate high-performing and specialised capabilities, fostering sustainable partnerships, and charting a course towards a more robust and responsive peacekeeping apparatus.”
He also emphasised the need for participants to recognise the diverse challenges faced by UN peacekeepers and peacekeeping missions, and focus their lens on critical aspects that would promote global peace and security.
Some of the issues identified for discussions include the protection of civilians, strategic communications, safety and security, the mental health of peacekeepers, and the indispensable role of women in peacekeeping.
Dr. Bawumia was hopeful that the camaraderie and collaborations formed during the conference would continue to flourish and contribute significantly towards achieving the objectives of the United Nations, saying “let us seize this opportunity to forge new partnerships, deepen existing collaborations, and lay the groundwork for a more secure and peaceful world.”
On his part, UN Under Secretary-General in charge of Peace Operations, Jean-Pierre Lacroix, was full of praise for Ghana for its unwavering commitment to the maintenance of peace around the world.
He credited the country for having an exemplary track record of peacekeeping operations.
By Charles Takyi-Boadu, Presidential Correspondent