The United Nations Resident Coordinator in Ghana, Zia Choudhury, has called for stronger global investment in peacekeeping operations as conflicts across the world continue to threaten civilian lives and stretch international resources.
Speaking at the 78th Flag Raising Ceremony to commemorate the International Day of United Nations Peacekeepers in Accra on Friday, Mr. Choudhury said peacekeeping remained one of the most effective tools available to the international community for preventing violence, protecting civilians, and supporting political solutions in conflict zones.
He said more than 50,000 civilian, military, and police peacekeepers were currently serving in some of the world’s most dangerous environments, despite growing operational and financial pressures facing UN missions.
“UN peacekeeping remains one of the international community’s most effective tools for supporting political solutions, preventing escalation, protecting civilians, monitoring ceasefires, and enabling humanitarian assistance”, he stated.
He warned that attacks on peacekeepers by both state and non-state actors were becoming more frequent, placing personnel at greater risk and weakening efforts to maintain international peace and security.
“Such actions put lives at risk and undermine the international community’s efforts to maintain peace and protect civilians. This is unacceptable”, he noted.
Mr. Choudhury paid tribute to more than 4,500 peacekeepers who have died in service since 1948, including 59 personnel who lost their lives in 2025 alone.
He made special mention of Warrant Officer Class One George Amin of the Ghana Armed Forces, who died in February this year while serving with the United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon.
“We remember him and may he rest in peace,” he said.
According to him, the fallen peacekeepers together with nine others who died in the previous year would be honoured posthumously with the Dag Hammarskjöld Medal at a ceremony in New York on June 5 presided over by the UN Secretary-General, António Guterres.
Mr. Choudhury also drew attention to the financial strain facing peacekeeping operations, revealing that the UN peacekeeping budget stood at six billion dollars annually, while modern warfare could cost between half a billion and one billion dollars a day.
The Resident Coordinator commended Ghana for its longstanding contribution to global peacekeeping operations, describing the country as one of the leading contributors of uniformed personnel to UN missions.
He said Ghana currently had more than 1,900 military and police personnel deployed across eight UN peacekeeping operations worldwide, including 337 women.
“Ghana has demonstrated an unwavering commitment to international peace and security,” he noted.
Mr. Choudhury said, “This year’s theme, Invest in Peace, calls for decisive action to ensure peacekeepers have the resources to carry out their vital mandates.
The ceremony brought together government officials, members of the diplomatic corps, representatives of the security services, civil society organisations and officials of the United Nations system in Ghana to honour peacekeepers who have served under the UN flag.
Joyce Adwoa Animia Ocran, ISD
