Ministers Head to Ghana For UN Conference
Ghana is set to host the United Nations Peacekeeping Ministerial Conference.
It will be the first time the two-day meeting, slated for December 5 and 6, 2023, will be hosted in Africa but it will be the fifth UN Peacekeeping Ministerial meeting.
Defense Minister Dominic Nitiwul, addressing a press briefing on Sunday, December 3, 2023 highlighted the significance of this two-day conference.
“The Accra United Nations Ministerial Conference will serve as a platform for Member States to strengthen their support to the United Nations Peacekeeping Operations,” stated Minister Nitiwul.
He emphasized that, apart from the yearly General Assembly meeting in New York, this conference stands out as the largest event organized by the United Nations. The event is expected to draw hundreds of participants, including Foreign and Defense Ministers, Heads of International Organizations, Academia, Social Partners, Civil Society Organizations, and Journalists.
Ghana’s unique position as the current chair of the UN Special Committee on Peacekeeping adds a layer of significance to the conference. This, Mr. Nitiwul highlighted the conference’s themes, including the role of women in peacekeeping, protection of civilians, mental health of peacekeepers, safety and security, and strategic communications.
“As a country that has exceeded UN targets on the inclusion of women in peacekeeping operations, Ghana is proud to instigate further discussion on this critical issue,” Minister Nitiwul declared.
The conference is expected to also attract 80 to 100 member states, with over 600 delegates already registered. The agenda for the meeting includes side meetings on women in peacekeeping and environmental aspects of peacekeeping, jointly organized with Sweden and the United States.
His Excellency the Vice President of the Republic, Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia will address the main conference, followed by panel sessions on the selected themes. The event will also feature a digital exhibition showcasing Africa’s role in the UN Peacekeeping Enterprise.
On his part, Deputy Minister for Foreign Affairs and Regional Integration, Kwaku
Ampratwum-Sarpong expressed Ghana’s preparedness to host the programme. He said Ghana will draw on it’s experience from organizing previous conferences of this nature to deliver successful meetings.
Minister for Information, Kojo Oppong Nkrumah expressed Ghana’s eagerness to seek bilateral and multilateral partnerships during the conference, underlining the critical importance of the event to Ghana and Africa.
He said the Ministerial Conference is poised to be a landmark gathering, fostering international cooperation to address the challenges faced by peacekeeping missions globally.
