New Ghanaian Battalion takes charge

UNIFIL’s Ghanaian Battalion (GHANBATT) saw a change in command of its 850-strong force operating in furthering peace in south Lebanon, last week. At a transfer of authority ceremony held in the Battalion headquarters in Al Qawzah on 6 July, the outgoing Commanding Officer Lt Col William Nortey passed the mantle to his successor Lt Col Fiifi Deegbe. The newly arrived peacekeepers will serve with UNIFIL for one year. In his address, the Sector West Commander Brigadier General Paolo Fabbri noted that Ghana has been one of the most important troop contributing countries since 1978 in support of the UNIFIL efforts in the pursuit of peace, security and stability in south Lebanon. GHANBATT’s area of responsibility includes a 23-kilometer stretch of the Blue Line within their area of responsibility in south Lebanon. As one of UNIFIL’s 42 troop contributors, Ghana has the highest number of women peacekeepers in Lebanon.