Before commentators begin hailing footballers as 'Heroes' of the FIFA 2010 World Cup, as the tournament reaches its final stages; it is important for Ghanaians to reflect upon the real heroes of Pan-Africanism and Ghana’s place on the World stage as a significant contributor to peace and stability.
The insurgency in the northwest of the Democratic Republic of Congo has recently led to yet another Ghanaian national being killed while undertaking Peacekeeping Operations.
I commented in the notes to my Thesis, on Ghanaian contribution to Peacekeeping Operations. A significant number of Ghanaians have died during Peacekeeping Operations since this important work began in 1948. Ghana is a relatively small country, but in terms of World Security and Statecraft it punches well above its weight. People, especially those in the West, often talk about charity. But true charity is not just about money. There is no greater sacrifice than laying down your life to try and preserve the security and well being of others. The ultimate sacrifice has occurred in many major conflicts and throughout the numerous peacekeeping operations involving the United Nations and the African Union. Given the number of Ghanaian fatalities, it is to the credit of Ghana and their Politicians that the country still actively participates in the security and peacekeeping element of International Politics.
The first United Nations (UN) Peacekeeping Mission was established in 1948, when the Security Council authorised the deployment of UN military observers to the Middle East to monitor the Armistice Agreement between Israel and its Arab neighbours. Since then, there have been in excess of 60 UN Peacekeeping Operations throughout the world.
Ghana is recognised as the fifth largest contributor to UN Peacekeeping. Ghanaians have been deployed on UN Missions in the Sinai, Egypt, and South Lebanon (where Ghana is the longest serving of the nations that make up the Peacekeeping force). Ghanaian Peacekeepers have ventured as far afield as Afghanistan, Bosnia-Herzegovina, Cambodia, Congo, Côte d'Ivoire, Croatia, Darfur, East Timor, Haiti, Kosovo, Kuwait, Lebanon, Liberia, Rwanda, Serbia, Sierra Leone, and the Sudan.
Records held by the UN that are dated 4 June 2010 indicate that since 1948 a total of 2805 Peacekeepers have made the ultimate sacrifice of laying down their life in the search for Peace. Of these 2805 deaths, thirty percent of the fatalities in the first 55 years of UN peacekeeping occurred between 1993 and 1995. UN Records dated the 30 May 2010 indicate that of the 2805 total deaths; 126 Ghanaians have died during 17 peacekeeping operations.
By reviewing the statistical data and researching to find out the full title of each operation I am able to produce the following table that is accurate to the end of May 2010. Please note that some of the Peacekeeping Operations are still active.
Mission abbreviation / Full title of the Mission / Number of Ghanaians Killed
UNAMID
African Union-United Nations Hybrid Operation in Darfur (UNAMID) Current operation 1
UNAMA
United Nations Assistance Mission in Afghanistan (UNAMA) Believe this to be Current 1
ONUC
United Nations Operation in the Congo (ONUC) 49
MONUC
United Nations Organization Mission in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (MONUC) 5
MINUSTAH
United Nations Stabilization Mission in Haiti (MINUSTAH) Current Operation 1
UNTAET
United Nations Transitional Administration in East Timor (UNTAET) 1
UNTAC
United Nations Transitional Authority in Cambodia (UNTAC) 2
UNOCI
United Nations Operation in Côte d'Ivoire (UNOCI) Current Operation 6
UNMIS
United Nations Mission in the Sudan (UNMIS) Current Operation 2
UNMIL
United Nations Mission in Liberia (UNMIL) Current Operation 5
UNMIK
United Nations Interim Administration Mission in Kosovo (UNMIK) Current Operation 1
UNMIBH
United Nations Mission in Bosnia and Herzegovina (UNMIBH) 1
UNIFIL
United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL) Current Operation 31
UNEF
United Nations Emergency Force I-II (UNEF I-II) 6
UNAVEM
United Nations Angola Verification Mission I-III (UNAVEM I-III) 1
UNAMSIL
United Nations Mission in Sierra Leone (UNAMSIL) 9
UNAMIR
United Nations Assistance Mission for Rwanda (UNAMIR) 4
Source:
http://www.un.org/en/peacekeeping
http://webcache.googleusercontent.com
http://www.un.org/en/peacekeeping/fatalities/documents
Footnote
I believe that it is important to remember the fallen and to bring all of their names into one location for ease of future reference. I intend to publish a full list of the 126 names if I can track down the details. Please email me if you hold details of any of the names or can direct me to an Internet or Library source containing the Ghanaian names.
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