The United Nations (UN) is to honour posthumously three Ghanaian peacekeepers who died in the cause of peace at an event to mark this year’s International Day of United Nations Peacekeepers on May 29.

The three, who died through ailment are, Lt. Col Jack Franklin Glawu passed on while serving with the United Nations-African Union Hybrid Operation in Darfur (UNAMID) and Corporal Daniel Kwaku Sasu and Private Kwabena Nyarko both were serving with the United Nations Mission in Liberia (UNMIL).

A UN official statement copied to the Ghana News Agency in Accra said the three were among some 106 peacekeepers who “perished carrying out their duty under the United Nations flag.

The statement said commemorative activities would be held at United Nations Headquarters in New York, as well as at UN Peacekeeping operations and offices around the world.

“A flag-raising and wreath-laying ceremony would be held at the Forecourt of the State House in Accra in remembrance of all the gallant men and women who continuously risk their lives in the quest for peace. An exhibition would be mounted as a side event,” it added.

The United Nations General Assembly, in 2002 designated May 29 as the International Day of UN Peacekeepers, as it was the date in 1948 when the first United Nations Peacekeeping Mission, the United Nations Truce Supervision Organization (UNTSO), began operations in Palestine.

The statement said this year’s commemorative ceremonies come at a time when the services of United Nations Peacekeepers continue to be in great demand.

There are nearly 85,000 military personnel, 12,500 police officers, 17,000 international civilian and national staff serving in 16 peacekeeping operations on four continents.