Ghana has urged Russia to back its commitment to open diplomacy on its war with Ukraine, with actions that would de-escalate the situation on the ground, and permit an atmosphere for dialogue.
In a statement at the United Nations Security Council Emergency Meeting on Ukraine on Thursday, Ghana’s Permanent Representative to the United Nations, Harold Adlai Agyeman, said Ghana was concerned that an escalation in the Russian-Ukraine war, would have serious implications on global peace and security.
He said the implications will not only affect Ukraine and its immediate neighbours but also for all member countries, as “security is indivisible and the insecurity of one, is the insecurity of all.”
“Those that choose the path of conflict rather than peace, bear the consequences of their actions,” the Ghanaian diplomat said in his statement.
Russian President Vladimir Putin on Thursday announced a military operation in Ukraine, claiming the actions taken were in response to threats coming from Ukraine.
After the announcement, Russia went ahead to invade Ukraine, reportedly bombing major cities in that country, despite the pleas by the United Nations and Western Allies.
Mr Agyeman said Ghana was concerned about reports of the use of hybrid warfare against Ukraine, especially the use of cyberattacks against some of its critical infrastructure.
He urged the Russian to reconsider the movement of its troops into the eastern regions of Ukraine, “in response to the purported request by the leaders of the separatist regions for an intervention.”
Peacekeeping by its nature, the Ghanaian diplomat explained, required the consent of the parties, and the impartiality of the peacekeeping force.
But the presence of the Russian troops in eastern Ukraine, at this time, he indicated, would not fulfil those requirements and that the UN Security Council should be seized of the matter.
“We urge for calm and call upon all parties to maintain the ceasefire in eastern Ukraine,” he stated, adding that Ghana was particularly concerned by the “high intensity of violations of ceasefires in recent days, and its consequences on the civilian populations in the Donbas region.”
The Ghanaian diplomat reminded all the parties of the need to respect international law and international humanitarian law and urged them to guarantee unimpeded access for humanitarian assistance in both government and non-government-controlled areas.
“We condemn any military activity that would deliberately target civilians and civilian infrastructure and remind all parties of the personal responsibility that exist in international law,” he said.
Mr Agyeman said Ghana unreservedly stood by the sovereignty and territorial integrity of Ukraine, “a bona fide Member State of the United Nations, whose membership of this Organisation provides for her guarantees over her internationally recognised borders, the same borders with which she joined this Organisation.”
He said the current developments in the eastern regions of Ukraine would not lead to a strategic gain for any party and encourage efforts to address both immediate and long-term interests through diplomacy and dialogue.
Rex Mainoo Yeboah, ISD
