Ghanaian soldiers get UN peacekeeping medals in Liberia
Karin Landgren, Special Representative of the Secretary-General (SRSG) of the United Nations, has awarded Peacekeeping Medals to more than 700 Ghanaian peacekeepers for their outstanding service as part of the United Nations Mission in Liberia (UNMIL).
“Since deploying its first troops to UNMIL in 2003, Ghana has remained a strong, reliable and dedicated partner in Liberia’s peace, stability and development,” the UN envoy said at a ceremony in Liberia’s frontier city of Ganta, to honour the Ghanaian soldiers for their dedicated service.
A statement signed by Cynthia Prah, National Information Officer of the United Nations Information Centre in Accra and copied to the Ghana News Agency, on Thursday, said in addition to providing a large number of troops to UNMIL, Ghana has also made available highly qualified military and police officers, who have served the Mission in senior positions, including deputy force commanders, chiefs of staff forces and a police commissioner.
The Ghanaian peacekeepers, had for the past five months been serving in various locations in Lofa, Bong and Nimba counties.
Ms Landgren praised them for pursuing and upholding the noble values and traditions of peacekeeping.
She commended the joint patrols and operations the Ghanaian soldiers had undertaken with their Liberian counterparts to remote and inaccessible parts of the country, especially along the borders with Côte d’Ivoire, Guinea and Sierra Leone to monitor cross-border activities and reassure the local population of their safety.
“You and your national partners have played an essential role in protecting civilians along the fragile border with Côte d’Ivoire through Operation MAYO, which brings you together with the United Nations Operation in Côte d’Ivoire forces and Ivorian officials for information sharing and joint patrols,” the SRSG told the Ghanaian peacekeepers.
Ms Landgren, who is also the Coordinator of UN Operations in Liberia, noted that in a few months Liberia and UNMIL would celebrate a decade of peace; at the same time.
She said: “There is still more to be done in support of Liberia’s peace, security and development.”
“Liberia’s security remains UNMIL’s top priority as we progress with the gradual and carefully planned transition of our security responsibilities to the Liberian authorities,” she added.
Source: GNA