Ghana has secured funding to increase the number of military women in their peacekeeping missions including command positions.  The funding comes from the UN under the Elsie Initiative Fund which supports greater participation and deployment of uniformed women peacekeepers.

Currently Ghana deploys over two thousand peacekeeping personnel and is the 7th highest contributor to UN peace operation.  Women comprise 15.6% of this deployment. With the EIF grant, Ghana will increase its contribution by including more women in command positions in the UN’s Interim Force in Lebanon for three years and beyond.

Ghana’s Chief of Defence Staff said they would be partnering with the Women Peace and Security Institute of the Kofi Annan International Peacekeeping Training Centre to launch a nationwide campaign to address gender stereotypes and promote the recruitment and integration of women in leadership and combat roles. The funds will also enable more accommodation facilities to be designed and built specifically for women recruits.

SecurityWomen welcomes Ghana’s approach to encourage more women recruits, and the Elsie Fund’s support of Ghana’s commitment to integrate women in leadership roles on UN peacekeeping missions.

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