The United Nations (UN) Country Office, in collaboration with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MFA) and the Ghana Armed Forces (GAF), last Saturday held a health walk in Accra to commemorate the 80th anniversary of the UN.
The walk attracted over 300 participants drawn from the various UN agencies in Ghana, members of the diplomatic corps, the MFA, GAF, the Ghana Immigration Service, the Ghana Police Service, the Ghana National Fire Service, and the Ghana Prisons Service. Participants covered a distance of 6.2 kilometres in about an hour and a half through the principal streets of the capital.
The exercise, which was climaxed with aerobics at the Accra International Conference Centre, was led by the UN Resident Coordinator, Zia Choudhury; a Director at the GAF Headquarters, Colonel Simeon Nyante; and the Director of Multilateral Relations Bureau at the MFA, Mrs Akosua Okyere-Badu. It formed part of a series of activities to celebrate the global body’s role in maintaining a relatively peaceful world over the past eight decades.
It was held on the theme: “UN@80: Ghana and the UN — Shared Responsibility for a Better Tomorrow.”
Peacekeeping and development
The UN Resident Coordinator, in an interview, said the 80th anniversary provided an opportunity to reflect on the organisation’s achievements, particularly in peacekeeping and development.
Mr Choudhury noted that the UN had successfully conducted numerous peacekeeping missions worldwide, with Ghana being a significant contributor to these efforts.
“Ghana has provided police and armed forces personnel to support UN peacekeeping missions in various conflict zones. These missions have played a crucial role in maintaining peace and stability in regions affected by conflict,” he said.
In addition to peacekeeping, he said, the UN had worked with governments, authorities, and civil society to promote development and improve living standards through vaccination campaigns, enhanced nutrition, and improved education.
The UN Resident Coordinator added that the organisation continued to promote human rights, solidarity, and dignity for all people.
Looking ahead, Mr Choudhury said the UN would remain committed to promoting peace, solidarity, and human rights worldwide. With the support of its member states and partners, he said the organisation aimed to address global challenges and create a more peaceful and prosperous world for future generations.
Collective action
The Chief Director of the MFA, Ambassador Khadija Iddrisu, in a statement delivered on her behalf by Mrs Akosua Okyere-Badu, said the health walk not only commemorated 80 years of the UN’s service to humanity but also celebrated the importance of health, solidarity, and collective action — all of which lie at the heart of the UN’s mission.
Ambassador Iddrisu noted that the theme of the celebration represented a powerful reminder that progress was greatest when parties acted together.
“Just as the UN has worked tirelessly to promote peace, human rights, and development across the globe, we too must unite in our efforts to build healthier, stronger, and more resilient communities, beginning with ourselves,” she said.
She added that Ghana had benefitted immensely from its longstanding partnership with the UN in advancing health and human development — from vaccination campaigns and maternal and child health initiatives to promoting universal access to clean water and sanitation.
Commitment to peacekeeping
For his part, Col. Nyante reaffirmed the GAF’s commitment to supporting UN peacekeeping missions and its role in promoting global peace and security.
He said the GAF viewed the UN as a symbol of peace, collaboration, and unity across the world, with Ghana actively participating in major UN activities and peacekeeping operations.
Col. Nyante added that the GAF had been involved in numerous UN missions, including those in Congo, Lebanon, Sudan, Liberia, Somalia, and other conflict zones, demonstrating its enduring commitment to global peace and stability.
He assured that the GAF was ready to continue supporting the UN’s mission, representing Ghana, and contributing to a peaceful and prosperous world.
Source: graphic.com.gh
