Ghana has taken over the chairmanship of the Global Action Against Mass Atrocity Crimes (GAAMAC) from Switzerland, becoming the first African country to host the secretariat of the global network of states, civil society organisations, and academic institutions that work to prevent genocide, war crimes, crimes against humanity, and ethnic cleansing through a multi-stakeholder approach. 

The Executive Secretary of the National Peace Council, Dr George Amoh, officially took over the chairmanship of the organisation from Christian Guillermet-Fernández in a ceremony at the Embassy of Switzerland in Accra last Thursday, Sept 11.

It will be the first time the secretariat of the GAAMAC, which was established in 2013, will be hosted outside Europe.

GAAMAC was established to strengthen the will, capacities, and networks needed to prevent mass atrocities before they occur. 

It serves as a platform for dialogue, knowledge sharing, and practical support, making prevention not only a moral imperative but also a key policy priority.

GAAMAC's initiatives have led to the establishment of regional working groups focused on atrocity prevention, allowing for collaboration among diverse nations and organisations. 

Role

The Minister for the Interior, Muntaka Mohammed-Mubarak, recalled Ghana's historical role in peacekeeping missions dating back to the 1960s, including interventions in the Democratic Republic of Congo, Lebanon, Liberia, Sierra Leone, and Cote d'Ivoire.

He added that this significant milestone for Ghana reflected its long-standing contributions to global peacekeeping.

Mr Mohammed-Mubarak pledged the government’s full support to the GAAMAC’s Secretariat during its stay in the country, assuring all stakeholders that his outfit would actively contribute to achieving the organisation's mandate.

“Strengthening national and international efforts to protect civilian populations is necessary to prevent mass atrocity crimes,” he added, calling for strategic cooperation on early warning systems and measures to counter hate speech.

For his part, the Deputy Minister for Foreign Affairs, James Gyakye Quayson, said that by taking on this responsibility, Ghana reaffirms its readiness to contribute meaningfully to the global effort of building a safer and more just world. 

Befitting

The Swiss Ambassador to Ghana, Simone Giger, described the achievement as befitting, commending Ghana for assuming this new role due to its commitment to peaceful coexistence as a core tenet of its foreign policy.

The Ambassador expressed confidence that Ghana's strong sense of justice and peace would guide the country in its new role.

Acceptance

In his acceptance speech, Dr Amoh expressed gratitude to the Swiss Embassy for their support and to the Swiss government for their long-standing partnership.

“This is a deeply meaningful moment that affirms Africa's experiences, leadership, and resilience in peacebuilding,” he stated, describing his chairmanship as both an honour and a responsibility to serve in a bid to shape the global agenda on prevention from an African perspective.

He said his vision was for a more responsive and inclusive GAAMAC, aiming to empower regional actors and strengthen local prevention efforts.

Dr Amoh, therefore, underscored the necessity of financial support to translate plans into action, calling on missions in Ghana and partners to contribute to this vital global initiative.