Ghana has formally protested to the United Nations (UN) following an attack on Ghanaian soldiers serving with the UN peacekeeping mission in Lebanon.
In a letter addressed to the UN Secretary-General, Mr Antonio Guterres, the government demanded a full investigation into the incident, which left some Ghanaian soldiers injured.
“Ghana demands full, immediate, impartial and transparent investigations into the attack in which Ghanaian soldiers have been injured,” the protest letter stated.
The letter, signed by the Minister of Foreign Affairs on Saturday, Mr Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa, on behalf of the Government and the people of Ghana, strongly condemned the attack and called for those responsible to be identified and brought to justice.
“Ghana strongly condemns this attack and has further demanded that those responsible be identified and held accountable, as the attack constitutes a grave violation of international law, amounts to war crime and affronts the protections afforded to United Nations peacekeeping personnel,” the letter emphasised.
The government also urged the UN to take all necessary steps to guarantee the safety and security of members of the Ghanaian contingent serving with the United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL), as well as other personnel under the mission.
It noted that peacekeeping personnel continued to risk their lives daily in the service of humanity and the maintenance of international peace and security.
The government further assured the injured soldiers of its support and commitment to ensuring justice.
“We assure our gallant soldiers that no effort shall be spared in pursuing justice and guaranteeing enhanced protection. Our thoughts and prayers are with the injured and their loved ones,” the letter added.
Despite the incident, the government reaffirmed Ghana’s long-standing commitment to United Nations peacekeeping operations and emphasised that the safety of peacekeeping personnel must remain a top priority.
“The Ministry of Foreign Affairs will continue to monitor developments closely and remain engaged with the relevant United Nations authorities on the matter,” the letter concluded.
Earlier, the Ghana Armed Forces (GAF) confirmed the attack in a statement issued in Accra on Friday and signed by the Acting Director-General of Public Relations, Captain (Ghana Navy) Veronica Adzo Arhin.
According to the statement, the Ghanaian base was hit by two missiles between 5:45 p.m. and 5:52 p.m. local time on Friday during exchanges of fire in the area, leaving two soldiers injured.
However, the Deputy Minister of Defence, Mr Ernest Brogya Genfi, later provided an update in an interview on a local television station on Saturday, saying four soldiers had been injured in the attack.
He said the injured soldiers sustained minor wounds and were stable and recovering.
The Deputy Defence Minister noted that one soldier, who suffered serious injuries to both legs and the hip, was successfully evacuated to Beirut, where he underwent surgery on Saturday morning.
Mr Genfi also disclosed that 15 officers lost all their personal belongings after a fire broke out at their accommodation following the attack.
BY NORMAN COOPER
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