Ghana has intensified its demand for justice and accountability following the March 2026 missile attack on its peacekeeping troops serving under the United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL), describing the incident as unacceptable and calling for sanctions against those responsible.
The Minister for Foreign Affairs, Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa, said Ghana is insisting on credible investigations into the attack, which left two Ghanaian soldiers critically injured and caused extensive damage to the battalion’s facilities.
The incident occurred on March 6, 2026, amid escalating tensions between the Israel Defense Forces and Hezbollah in southern Lebanon, when the Ghanaian Battalion Headquarters came under missile fire.
The strike destroyed the Officers’ Mess and left at least one additional officer suffering psychological trauma, underscoring the increasing risks faced by peacekeepers deployed in volatile conflict zones.
Speaking after a ministerial session on peacekeeping reforms in Rabat on May 21, Mr Ablakwa said Ghana had used the platform to renew its call for accountability and stronger protection mechanisms for United Nations peace operations.
The meeting, hosted by Morocco and France, brought together foreign ministers, UN officials and peacekeeping experts to discuss the future of global peacekeeping amid shrinking international funding and rising operational risks.
According to Mr Ablakwa, participants adopted a communique stressing the urgent need to safeguard peacekeeping personnel, especially in missions supporting vulnerable populations in active conflict zones.
He said Ghana used the forum to push for stronger investigative processes and enforcement of sanctions against perpetrators of attacks on UN personnel.
Ghana also highlighted the importance of reforming peacekeeping training and strengthening operational readiness, with Mr Ablakwa chairing a ministerial panel on training strategies during the session.
He further showcased Ghana’s long-standing contribution to global peace operations, noting its reputation as one of the world’s leading troop-contributing countries since its first deployment in 1960.
The Minister also drew attention to the achievements of Anita Asmah, recognised as Africa’s first female UN peacekeeping Head of Mission and Force Commander, using her example to advocate for greater female participation in peace operations.
Mr Ablakwa stressed that women currently make up only about 10 percent of global peacekeeping personnel, calling for urgent efforts to improve representation and inclusivity.
He reaffirmed Ghana’s support for UN Security Council Resolution 2719 and its commitment to strengthening the capacity and professionalism of peacekeeping missions worldwide.
Despite the risks faced by its personnel, Ghana pledged to maintain its strong tradition of contributing troops to international peace operations, with the Minister paying tribute to the courage and sacrifice of Ghana’s “blue berets” serving across conflict zones.
