Ghana has expressed appreciation to France for its solidarity and support following an attack on Ghanaian peacekeepers serving with the United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL) earlier this year.
Deputy Minister of Defence, Ernest Brogya Genfi, conveyed the appreciation during a high-level meeting with France’s Delegate Minister for Armed Forces and Veterans.
Mr. Genfi led a Ghanaian delegation that included Ghana’s Ambassador to France, Mavis Ama Frimpong, as well as the Chairman and Vice Chairman of Parliament’s Defence and Interior Committee.
The meeting focused on Ghana-France defence relations and explored opportunities to strengthen cooperation between the two countries, particularly in areas of shared security interests.
In a Facebook post, the Deputy Defence Minister said the engagement also offered him an opportunity to personally acknowledge France’s response to the attack on Ghanaian peacekeepers.
“I particularly used the occasion to convey Ghana’s appreciation for her expression of sympathy when Ghanaian troops serving with UNIFIL came under attack earlier this year,” he said.
The March 6, 2026, incident occurred at a Ghanaian UNIFIL position in Al Qawzah, southwestern Lebanon, amid heavy firing.
Three Ghanaian peacekeepers were initially reported injured, with one later transferred to Beirut for medical treatment. The Ghana Armed Forces subsequently indicated that four Ghanaian soldiers had been affected, including one who sustained critical injuries.
The accommodation facility housing 14 officers was also destroyed in the incident. The affected personnel were subsequently re-kitted and re-accommodated, with the necessary logistical and welfare support provided.
The attack triggered widespread international condemnation, with the United Nations reiterating calls for the protection of peacekeepers and accountability for those responsible.
France was among the countries that publicly expressed support for Ghana following the incident.
In a statement, France’s Ministry for Europe and Foreign Affairs said President Emmanuel Macron had condemned what it described as the “unacceptable” attack on three members of the Ghanaian contingent.
France expressed its “full solidarity” with Ghana, wished the injured peacekeepers a speedy recovery and commended the courage, professionalism and dedication of UNIFIL personnel.
It also renewed its call for the protection of UN peacekeepers and the safety of United Nations personnel, property and premises, in line with international law and UN Security Council Resolution 1701.
The Israeli military later acknowledged that its forces had mistakenly struck the UNIFIL position after misidentifying it as the source of anti-tank fire from Hezbollah. It expressed regret over the incident and conveyed apologies to Ghana and the United Nations, according to Reuters.
It was against this backdrop that Deputy Defence Minister Ernest Brogya Genfi used his engagement with French officials to formally express Ghana’s appreciation for France’s solidarity and diplomatic support.
The meeting also reaffirmed the longstanding defence partnership between Ghana and France, with both sides exploring avenues to deepen cooperation in response to evolving regional and global security challenges.
2 soldiers critically injured in attack on Ghanaian Battalion HQ in UNIFIL, Lebanon – GAF
