The Minister for Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Ghana, Hon. Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa (MP), participated in the Second Ministerial Conference on Peacekeeping in the Francophone Environment, held on Wednesday in Rabat, Kingdom of Morocco.
The Conference, co-chaired by the Kingdom of Morocco and the French Republic, was organised in partnership with the United Nations and the International Organisation of La Francophonie (OIF). The meeting formed part of ongoing international efforts to strengthen cooperation and enhance the effectiveness of peacekeeping operations in francophone environments, following the inaugural conference held in France.
The Conference brought together ministerial-level delegations, senior officials of the United Nations and the OIF, representatives of regional organisations, as well as civilian and military experts engaged in peacekeeping operations.
During the plenary session, Hon. Ablakwa reaffirmed that the safety and security of peacekeeping personnel remain an absolute priority. He condemned, in the strongest terms, attacks against peacekeepers, noting that such acts may constitute war crimes under international law. He further underscored the importance of respecting and implementing relevant United Nations resolutions and decisions relating to peacekeeping operations.
Hon. Ablakwa also reiterated Ghana’s longstanding commitment to multilateralism and its continued support for international efforts aimed at promoting peace, security, and effective peacekeeping operations worldwide.
As part of the Conference proceedings, he moderated a panel discussion on the theme: “Training as a Vector for Performance and Results in Light of Multidimensional Challenges and Threats.” Discussions during the session highlighted the critical role of training as a prerequisite for deployment and mission effectiveness, both prior to and during peacekeeping assignments.
Participants emphasised that effective training constitutes the foundation for the safety, operational performance, and overall success of peacekeeping missions. In this regard, the Conference encouraged enhanced interoperability and harmonisation of training cycles to enable peacekeepers to operate in accordance with common international standards.
