Some 483 soldiers of the Ghanaian Contingent based in Bondoukou, 416 km northeast of Abidjan, were on Friday, 6 December 2013, decorated with the United Nations Medal by the Deputy Commander of the Force of the United Nations Operation in Côte d'Ivoire (UNOCI), General Talla Niang.



Addressing the medal recipients on behalf of the United Nations Secretary-General, General Niang congratulated them on their professionalism and their devotion to their work as peacekeepers. "I must admit that you dominate your area of responsibility the patrols that you carry out by day and by night in the villages in the Zanzan region. The medical assistance that you provide to local people on a daily basis is remarkable," he added. He also congratulated the work of Ghana Aviation which is an integral part of air transportation of the UN Mission.

General Niang also recalled UN Security Council Resolution 2112 to the first secretary-general of the local government, who represented the Prefect of Gontougo Region, before reiterating the UN Mission's commitment to work for the protection of civilians by supporting the national security forces. He also thanked the administrative authorities, the Regional Council and the Mayor's Office who attended the medal parade ceremony. "Thank you for your hospitality and the way you treat our soldiers," he added. To the defence and security forces of Côte d'Ivoire, UNOCI's Deputy Force Commander asked they to work towards a new stage: that of protecting the people and making men in uniform the kind of people who love and respect their fellow citizens.



The ceremony was attended by a high-level Ghana Army delegation led by Air Vice Marshall Issufu Sakib Kadri.