Ghana has taken over the chairmanship of the Global Action Against Mass Atrocity Crimes (GAAMAC) from Switzerland, marking the first time the organization’s leadership has moved outside Europe. The handing-over ceremony, held in Accra, was attended by the Minister for the Interior, Hon. Muntaka Mohammed-Mubarak, who pledged Ghana’s full support to GAAMAC’s mission of preventing mass atrocity crimes.
In his address, the Minister highlighted Ghana’s long-standing commitment to global peace, tracing its contributions from the early 1960s in peacekeeping missions in the Democratic Republic of Congo and Lebanon, to interventions in Liberia, Sierra Leone, Côte d’Ivoire, and Sudan. He noted that Ghana’s leadership in international peacekeeping, from the era of Dr. Kwame Nkrumah to Flt Lt. Jerry John Rawlings’ advocacy for Kofi Annan’s appointment as UN Secretary-General, underscores the nation’s dedication to preventing conflicts and crimes against humanity.
The Minister emphasised the importance of GAAMAC’s work in preventing mass atrocity crimes, including genocide, ethnic cleansing, crimes against humanity, and war crimes, stressing the need for strengthening early warning systems, combating hate speech, ensuring accountability for perpetrators, and upholding human rights and the rule of law to mitigate these heinous crimes. He also called for global efforts to address structural inequalities and promote inclusive societies to reduce the risk of atrocities.
Hon. Muntaka congratulated Dr. George Amoh, Executive Secretary of the National Peace Council, on his appointment as GAAMAC’s new Chairman. He urged all stakeholders to work collaboratively to fulfill GAAMAC’s mandate of preventing mass atrocity crimes and building a safer, more inclusive world.
The Swiss Ambassador to Ghana, H.E. Simone Giger, has welcomed Ghana’s assumption of the secretariat and coordination of the Global Action Against Mass Atrocity Crimes (GAAMAC). The Ambassador noted that Ghana hosting the secretariat is particularly befitting, given the country’s commitment to peaceful coexistence.
The Deputy Minister for Foreign Affairs, Hon. James Gyakye Quayson, expressed the need for corporation and collaboration in the fight against mass atrocity crimes. He commended Switzerland for establishing the Global Action Against Mass Atrocity Crimes (GAAMAC) and emphasized the determination to build on the strong foundation laid by the organization.
