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Madam Shirley Ayorkor Botchwey, Minister of Foreign Affairs and Regional Integration, on Wednesday reaffirmed Ghana’s commitment to global peacekeeping.

“Ghana will continue to play significant roles in peacekeeping within the constraints of its resources, in line with her firm belief in the noble ideals of the United Nations (UN) peacekeeping,” Madam Botchwey said at a flag-raising ceremony on the occasion of the 73rd UN Day at the forecourt of the Statehouse in Accra.

“I will like to use this opportunity to reaffirm the commitment of Government to the ideas and principles of the UN and to reiterate that, we would continue to discharge our international obligation in promoting peace and security throughout the world,” she said.

The celebration was held under the theme; “Making the UN Relevant to All People: Global Leadership and Sharing Responsibilities for Peaceful, Equitable and Sustainable Societies”.

The function was attended by Ministers of State, Members of Parliament (MPs), members of the diplomatic community, service chiefs, traditional rulers, students and the public.

Madam Botchwey said the UN has always provided the platform for the teeming majority of progressive nations of the world, both rich and poor, large and small, developed and underdeveloped, to reach out to one another and to build bridges towards creating common conditions for the respect of human rights, the rule of law and deepening democracy.

Others are good governance and the attainment of social equality, social justice and better standards of living for all.

Madam Botchwey said on this score, the UN has made remarkable strides in its advocacy for Member States to uphold the principles that guarantee basic freedoms and human rights of the citizens of the world.

She said similarly, it has made significant progress in promoting sustainable development and prosperity in the world by setting common standards and goals to guide the efforts of its Member States in the quest to better the lives of their people.

“Nevertheless, the world is still faced with various threats to peace, security and stability, serious violations of human rights, marked social deprivation, poverty and the devastating effects of climate change and consequent environmental degradation,” Madam Botchwey said.

“In the same way, transformative and sustainable development has continued to elude many nations across the globe and the sense of hopelessness and despair of the poor and the marginalised in our societies constitute an affront to our common sense of humanity,” she said.