UN to strengthen cooperation with KAIPTC

Accra, June 28, GNA – Mr Jean-Pierre Lacroix, the United Nations Under Secretary-General for Peace Operations, says the world body world continue to strengthen its cooperation with the Kofi Annan International Peacekeeping Training Centre (KAIPTC).

Mr Larcroix, who gave the assurance when he paid a visit to the Centre in Accra, noted that there was great potential to be derived from the cooperation.

The Under Secretary-General was in Accra for the funeral of the late Major General Francis Vib-Sanziri, the late Head of Mission and Force Commander of the United Nations Disengagement Observer Force (UNDOF).

Maj Gen Francis Vib-Sanziri died while in active service in Israel on Friday 19th April.

Mr Larcroix was received at the Centre by its Commandant, Air Vice Marshal (AVM) Griffiths Santrofi Evans.

In attendance was the Chief of Defence Staff (CDS) Lieutenant General Obed Boamah Akwa.

Mr Larcroix received briefings on Ghana’s Peacekeeping Operations, the mandate and activities of KAIPTC, and an overview of the maiden edition of The Kofi Annan Peace and Security Forum, the KAIPTC’s flagship policy forum, scheduled for 4 – 5 September this year.

He commemorated the visit by planting a tree in KAIPTC’s Peace Garden.

Mr Larcroix lauded Ghana’s contribution to the UN peacekeeping mission over several decades.

He paid tribute to the late Maj Gen Vib-Sanziri for his distinguished role in UN Peacekeeping Mission.

Lt Gen Akwa commended the Under Secretary-General for coming to mourn with Ghanaians on the loss of Maj Gen Vib-Sanziri.

The CDS noted that peacekeeping forms a major part of Ghana’s foreign policy.

He said Ghana is pursuing gender advocacy; stating that Ghana was making all efforts to meet the ultimate objective of having 16 per cent of all peacekeepers being women.

He said in future missions, Ghana would ensure that the UN’s 16 per cent target for women was met.

AVM Evans said KAIPTC as a Centre of Excellence in the sub-region, would like to be the eyes and ears of the UN in Africa.

He said the Centre would give the UN the right information for it to make informed decisions on the African continent.

GNA

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