Accra – Ghana has proudly surpassed the United Nations’ target for the deployment of female military personnel in peacekeeping missions, President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo announced. The revelation came during his address at the 2023 graduation parade of the Ghana Military Academy in Accra, marking a significant milestone for the nation in terms of gender representation in its military forces.
According to Ghana News Agency, the Ghana Armed Forces (GAF) currently have a deployment strength of 2,500 military personnel across 15 global peacekeeping missions. Notably, the GAF has deployed 19 percent female personnel in foreign troops, significantly exceeding the UN’s target of nine percent. This achievement reflects Ghana’s longstanding commitment to global peace and security, a commitment that dates back to its first participation in a UN peacekeeping force in the Republic of Congo in 1960.
The West African nation, which joined the United Nations on March 8, 1957, just two days after gaining independence from Britain, has consistently contributed to peace support operations. Currently, Ghana is ranked ninth by the UN as the largest troop-contributing country in peace support operations.
At the same graduation parade, President Akufo-Addo, who also serves as the Commander-in-Chief, noted a historic moment with the commissioning of 292 officer cadets, the largest number in the history of the GAF. This group comprised 217 males and 75 females. The parade also marked the joint commissioning of regular career course cadets and short service special duty cadets, a move necessitated by disruptions caused by the COVID-19 pandemic.
Emphasizing the importance of the armed forces in the current security landscape, President Akufo-Addo highlighted the growing security threats in West Africa, particularly in the Sahel region. He affirmed the government’s resolve to strengthen the country’s security architecture, maintaining the peace Ghana enjoys in the region. To this end, the Armed Forces are strategically spread across the nation to maintain continuous surveillance and protect Ghana’s territorial integrity.
In a move that further cements Ghana’s role in global peacekeeping efforts, the country is set to partner with the UN to host a joint Peacekeeping Ministerial meeting in December. This meeting, a first of its kind in Africa and the fifth overall, will convene Defence Ministers and others committed to peacekeeping. The summit will focus on various crucial aspects, including civilian protection, combating misinformation, promoting safety and mental health, and highlighting the critical role of women in UN peacekeeping operations. This biennial flagship meeting aims to secure political support and pledges to bolster UN peacekeeping, in alignment with the Action for Peacekeeping (A4P) and A4P+ initiatives.