Ghana is set to host the United Nations (UN) Peacekeeping Ministerial Meeting in Accra on December 5 and 6, 2023. This marks the first time the continent will host this crucial two-day gathering, which is the fifth of its kind.
The announcement came during a joint press conference held by Ghana’s Minister of Foreign Affairs and Regional Integration, Shirley Ayorkor Botchwey, and senior UN Secretariat officials in New York, USA.
Ghana, currently serving as a non-permanent member on the Security Council, assumes the role of Chairman of the Council, adding gravitas to its hosting of this international event.
The UN Peacekeeping Ministerial Meeting, a global initiative with contributions from over 120 nations, convenes foreign and defense ministers to secure tangible commitments aimed at enhancing peacekeeping operations worldwide.
With a focus on addressing critical gaps, harnessing new technologies, and tackling key priorities, this year’s meeting set to grapple with pressing issues such as safeguarding civilians, countering misinformation, ensuring safety and security, preserving the mental well-being of peacekeepers, and promoting the pivotal role of women in peacekeeping.
The meeting is also set to explore strategies to generate specialized capabilities and sustainable capacity-building partnerships to meet the evolving needs of UN peacekeeping missions.
The Under-Secretary-General for Peace Operations of the UN, Jean-Pierre Lacroix, emphasized the importance of the 2023 Ministerial Meeting in reinforcing leaders’ commitment to UN Peacekeeping.
He lauded Ghana’s role in strengthening UN operations and emphasized the continued significance of UN Peacekeeping as a multilateral tool for achieving sustainable peace and development.
“We are grateful to Ghana for hosting this Ministerial meeting and for their critical contributions to strengthening our operations,” he said.
Member states were encouraged to forge bilateral and triangular support and partnerships to ensure that proposed improvements would have a lasting and meaningful impact on global peacekeeping efforts.
