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Ghana commemorates 62nd UN Day
celebrations
Accra, Oct.16, Ghanadot/GNA - Ghana on Tuesday marked the
62nd United Nations (UN) Day celebration with renewed
commitment to support the current Secretary-General, Mr Ban
Ki Moon to make the UN more relevant to the world's people.
According to Mr Akwasi Osei-Adjei, Minister of Foreign
Affairs, Regional Integration and NEPAD, Ghana has been an
active member of the UN since her independence and has also
been a genuine collaborator in its activities since then.
At a press briefing and a photo exhibition to mark the day,
Mr. Osei-Adjei said the excellent cooperation Ghana has
enjoyed with the UN had informed the choice of the theme:
"Ghana 50 Years of effective partnership with the UN for
sustainable development."
Some of the activities to commemorate the occasion include a
Flag Raising, Model Security Council Session and what do you
know quiz contest.
Mr. Osei-Adjei said the global expectation of UN since its
founding had not changed but expanded considerably beyond
its three main pillars relating to peace and security,
development and human rights.
Mr. Osei-Adjei said beside the three pillars, the UN was
taking timely decision in addressing climate issues,
environmental degradation, humanitarian disasters,
terrorism, disarmament and non-proliferation of arms among
others.
He said the UN, like any human institution was not perfect
but was trying hard to meet the rising demand of the current
global expectations adding that the UN under the able
leadership of Kofi Annan, Former Secretary General began an
unprecedented far-reaching reform process to strengthen the
organisation to perform its tasks.
"We are pleased that the current Secretary General, Ban Ki-Moon,
is equally committed to the reform process," he said.
Mr. Osei-Adjei said in manifestation of her commitment to
peace and security, Ghana would continue to contribute to
peace keeping missions undertaken by the UN and push for
greater co-operation, collaborate with UN and the African
Union as well as Regional Economic Communities on the
continent to enhance the exchange of experiences and to
strengthen regional capacity in the area of conflict
prevention, resolution and management.
"In this regard, the recent Security Council decision to
replace the AU Mission in Darfur with an AU-UN hybrid Force
is commendable and we trust that the success of this
initiative would serve as a blueprint for future
collaborative efforts between the UN and other regional
organizations in peacekeeping."
He said in recognition to the essential link between peace
and security, development and human rights, the
international community was been urged to help implement the
global development agenda to accelerate sustainable
development in developing countries.
Mr. Osei-Adjei also mentioned the issue of climate change,
which was unanimously agreed at a recent meeting in New York
as posing a formidable challenge to the attainment of the
Millennium Development goals.
He said it was therefore encouraging that at the high level
meeting both developed and developing countries pledged to
undertake the necessary actions to halt and possibly reverse
the effects of climate change saying, "Ghana is committed to
playing an active role in this important endeavour."
He commended the UN for its support to victims of the recent
flooding in the country and paid tribute to UN agencies for
their prompt and effective response to humanitarian
challenge posed by the floods both in Ghana and in other
parts of Africa.
GNA
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