The army chiefs – both serving and retired – in a group photograph with Lt Gen. Erskine and wife
Lieutenant General Emmanuel Alexander Erskine, the first Ghanaian military officer to be appointed the first Force Commander for the United Nations Interim Forces In Lebanon (UNIFIL) in 1978, has been honoured for his meritorious work in that country.
The Ghana Armed Forces (GAF) last Friday presented to him a citation, a plague and a photo album of his days in the Middle East as well as other gifts to honour him. It coincided with the 40th anniversary celebration of the creation of the United National Interim Forces in Lebanon (from 1978 to 1981).
At a colourful ceremony organised by the Ghana Armed Forces at his residence at the Airport Residential Area in Accra, Chief of the Defence Staff, Lt Gen. Obed Boamah Akwa, recounted how the two met for the first time in 1977 in the United Nations Emergency Force Two in Cairo, Egypt.
“I was a 2nd Lieutenant and a platoon commander and invited to Lt Gen Erskine’s flat to discuss a certain matter that had to do with administration and operation of my department.
“His exploits covered a multitude of missions and countries and I must say that through his performance during his UNIFIL operations, Lt Gen Erskine won international admiration not only for himself, but for Ghana,” Lt Gen Akwa recounted.
The CDS noted that as the first force commander of UNIFIL, Lt Gen. Erskine at that time had the responsibility as the representative of the secretary general of the UN in matters relating to peacekeeping in the Middle East.
He averred that Gen. Erskine accomplished a lot in the troubled space of the Middle East at a time when peacekeeping in Lebanon was very dangerous.
“He was known in Cairo, Somalia, Alexandria in Egypt, Aman in Jordan, Damascus in Syria, Jerusalem and several other places in the Middle East,” the CDS asserted.
The Minister of Defence, Dominic Nitiwul, also congratulated Lt Gen Erskine on the honour he brought to the country.
“As we recognize your service to humanity, both home and abroad, it is my greatest pleasure on behalf of President Nana Akufo-Addo, the Commander-in-chief of the Ghana Armed Forces, to congratulate you on behalf of the people of Ghana,” Mr Nitiwul underscored.
In an address, Lt Gen Erskine paid homage to peacekeepers who, at the peril of their lives, had been doing everything to save innocent and vulnerable people in conflict zones.
He said it was time for the Ghana Armed Forces to mark its achievements over the years, adding, “If no one praises us, let us praise ourselves.”
The ceremony was attended by the charge d’Affaires of the Lebanese Embassy in Ghana, Ali Qazzan; some retired generals, including former chiefs of Defence Staff, Major Gen. Ashley–Lassen, Lt Gen. Joshua Hamidu, Air Mashall Samson Oje, Major Gen. S. Odotei and Major Gen. C B Yaache; chairman of the Veteran Administration of Ghana as well as other senior officers and men of the GAF.
By Linda Tenyah-Ayettey
(lindatenyah@gmail.com)