A Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs and Regional Integration, Thomas Mbomba, has reiterated the commitment of Ghana to using her tenure at the Security Council of United Nations (UN) to advocate global peace and security for sustainable and inclusive development.
He explained that Ghana’s priorities as a non-permanent Member of the UN Security Council include working with other member states to ensure that the Council decisively responds to the new threats to global peace and security.
This, he said, includes a balanced focus on the root causes of conflict, more effective peacekeeping mandates and burden sharing between the UN and Regional Organisations such as ECOWAS.
Addressing an event in Prague, Czech Republic, during official working visit over the week, the Deputy Minister urged Czech Republic to support Ghana in that regard. He also requested sustainable funding by the UN for the fight against terrorism, piracy, illicit arms, drugs, human trafficking, violent extremism and addressing climate insecurity.
More opportunities
He said the assumption of the presidency of the European Union (EU) Council by the Czech Republic had provided more opportunities for Czech Republic and Ghana to work closely together on issues of common interest.
The Deputy Minister stressed the need for EU to extensively support Ghana’s efforts in improving on international peace and security, as well as the achievement of the SDGs in Africa.
He urged the two counterparts to continue with more collaboration on the multilateral front to respond decisively to the new threats to Global Peace and Security including terrorism, piracy, illicit arms, drugs and human trafficking.
“There is strong bonds of friendship and partnership that has existed between the two countries dating back to the late 60’s. Our relations have further been strengthened with the exchange of high-level visits from both sides. The long-standing tradition of cooperation between the two countries in various international fora, including support for each other’s candidatures for positions at various multilateral institutions and expressed the desire to continue such cooperation,” he said.
Insecurity in Africa
On the situation in the Sahel Region and Gulf of Guinea, Mr Mbomba stressed that Ghana had always been actively involved in ECOWAS and AU deliberations, including efforts at resolving regional conflicts on the continent.
He added that the government does not only have strong interest in the afore-mentioned issues, but is also committed to working with its partners, including Czech Republic.
He further explained that the complexity of the problem demands cooperation and capacity building to enable countries address the menace.
“Ghana is seriously committed to the fight and is calling on the Czech Republic to support efforts aimed at strengthening our capacity to contribute to the improvement of the security situation in the Region, particularly by implementing preventive counter-terrorism strategies,” he added.
