Accra: Ghana on Friday joined the international community to commemorate the 80th anniversary of the founding of the United Nations (UN) with a flag-raising ceremony at the forecourt of the State House in Accra.
According to Ghana News Agency, the ceremony was held under the national theme 'UN@80: Ghana and the UN - Shared Responsibility for a Better Tomorrow,' highlighting Ghana's long-standing commitment to multilateralism, peacekeeping, and sustainable development since joining the UN shortly after independence in 1957.
The event was attended by high-level dignitaries, including Mr. Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa, Minister for Foreign Affairs; Mr. Zia Choudhury, UN Resident Coordinator in Ghana; members of the diplomatic corps; representatives of security services led by the Ghana Navy; and students.
Mr. Ablakwa lauded the UN for its eight decades of work in advancing peace, human rights, and development while celebrating Ghana's enduring partnership with the world body. He paid tribute to the men and women of Ghana's security services, particularly those serving in UN peacekeeping missions around the world.
The Foreign Minister noted that Ghana has remained among the top 10 troop-contributing countries to UN peace operations since its first deployment in 1960. Mr. Ablakwa emphasized Ghana's belief in global solidarity and compassion, acknowledging the courage and professionalism of its military personnel.
He reaffirmed Ghana's commitment to the ideals of the UN Charter, highlighting the support from UN agencies such as UNDP, UNICEF, WHO, FAO, and UNESCO in strengthening education, healthcare, environmental protection, and digital innovation in the country.
Touching on the global theme 'UN@80: Building Our Future Together,' Mr. Ablakwa called for urgent reform of the UN Security Council to ensure Africa's full and equal representation, describing the continent's exclusion from permanent membership as an injustice.
Mr. Zia Choudhury, in his remarks, traced the founding of the UN to 24 October 1945 and emphasized the organization's ongoing mission to unite 193 member states in pursuit of peace, human rights, and development. He highlighted the UN's efforts in assisting people fleeing war, providing food in crises, vaccinating children, and maintaining peace operations.
Mr. Choudhury commended Ghana for its leadership and advocacy for multilateral cooperation, describing the country as a beacon of stability and diplomacy. He also conveyed a message from the UN Secretary-General, Mr. Ant³nio Guterres, underscoring the collective duty of nations to build a better world.
The ceremony concluded with the raising of the national and UN flags and a joint pledge by Ghana and the United Nations to continue working together toward a peaceful, equitable, and sustainable world.
