Ghana top contributor to UN peace efforts

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Since becoming an independent nation in 1957, Ghana has maintained its focus on promoting world peace and security, he says, adding that the Ghana Armed Forces (GAF) have participated in peace efforts by the UN, the African Union (AU) and the Economic Commission of West African States (ECOWAS).

Speaking at a ceremony earlier this week to mark the 10th anniversary celebration of the partnership between the GAF and the state of North Dakota in the United States, he said leadership across the world needed to integrate efforts and commitment to deal with the threat of global peace and security and make the world a better place for all.

Wayongo said the Ghana government was embarking on re-equipment, infrastructure and human resource development of the GAF to position it to meet its constitutional mandate internally and internationally.

Chief of Defence Staff Vice-Admiral Matthew Quarshie said the GAF had benefited from various assistance programmes through the bilateral relationship with the US such as training under the auspices of the Office of Security Co-operation.

He said some of the benefits were International Military Education and Training, State Partnership Programmes and Foreign Military Financing Programmes.

Major-General David A. Spryncznatyk, the Adjutant-General of the North Dakota National Guard, said North Dakotans shared many of the values and ideals of Ghanaians and that their outfits were committed to building better lives for citizens.

He said the partnership between Ghana and US had provided opportunities for the GAF to train in a foreign country to be equipped with the needed professional expertise.