Ghana has once again called for thorough investigations and punitive measures after the March 2026 attack on peacekeepers stationed in Lebanon, according to Foreign Affairs Minister Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa.
Mr. Ablakwa made the statement after attending a ministerial discussion on reforms in peacekeeping operations held in Rabat on Thursday, May 21. The session was hosted by the foreign ministers of Morocco and France.
The gathering brought together diplomats, United Nations representatives, and peacekeeping specialists to deliberate on the future of international peace missions at a time when financial backing for such operations continues to decline.
On March 6, the Ghanaian Battalion Headquarters operating under the United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL) was hit by missiles amid clashes involving the Israel Defense Forces and Hezbollah in southern Lebanon.
The incident left two Ghanaian soldiers critically wounded, while another officer reportedly suffered psychological distress. The attack also destroyed the Officers’ Mess at the camp after it was engulfed by fire.
According to Mr. Ablakwa, participants at the meeting released a communique stressing the urgent need to safeguard peacekeeping missions, especially those protecting civilians in conflict zones.
He stated that Ghana had again demanded transparent investigations and sanctions in connection with the assault on its peacekeepers in Lebanon.
The Foreign Affairs Minister further revealed that he chaired a ministerial discussion focused on strategies for training peacekeeping personnel and used the opportunity to highlight Ghana’s long record in global peacekeeping missions.
He also paid tribute to Anita Asmah, describing her as Africa’s first female Head of Mission and Force Commander in United Nations peacekeeping history.
Mr. Ablakwa urged the international community to increase the involvement of women in peace operations, pointing out that women currently make up only about 10 percent of peacekeeping personnel worldwide.
He stressed that the present level of female participation was far from satisfactory.
As a member of the Governing Council of the Kofi Annan International Peacekeeping Training Centre, the minister commended the institution for advancing professional, multicultural, and gender-sensitive peacekeeping training.
He also reaffirmed Ghana’s backing for United Nations Security Council Resolution 2719 and pledged that the country would continue to uphold its reputation as one of the leading contributors of troops to global peace missions.
Mr. Ablakwa noted that Ghana’s involvement in peacekeeping dates back to its first deployment in 1960.
He added that Ghana remained proud of its peacekeepers, praising their courage and dedication in protecting vulnerable people across conflict areas worldwide.