Ghana News

When Others Withdrew, Ghana Stayed: The Untold Story of Ghanaian Peacekeepers Who Saved Thousands in Rwanda’s 1994 Genocide

Published

2 months ago

July 7, 2026

As the world turned its back on Rwanda in the spring of 1994, a contingent of Ghanaian peacekeepers made a decision that would cost them their safety but save thousands of lives.

While nations scrambled to withdraw their troops from the United Nations Assistance Mission for Rwanda (UNAMIR) following the assassination of President Juvénal Habyarimana on April 6, Ghana refused to abandon the Rwandan people.

Over approximately 100 days, an estimated one million people—predominantly Tutsis and moderate Hutus—were systematically murdered by extremist militias and elements of the former Rwandan government.

The genocide that unfolded was not a spontaneous outbreak of violence but the result of decades of ideological planning, with propaganda dehumanizing Tutsis as inyenzi (“cockroaches”) and militias armed and trained in the 1980s and 1990s.

At the height of the carnage, the international community faltered. UN Force Commander General Roméo Dallaire had warned in January 1994 of plans for the large-scale extermination of the Tutsi people, but the warnings were not acted upon. When UN forces were directed to withdraw, Dallaire recalls telling his deputy, General Henry Kwami Anyidoho:

“We have been asked to leave Rwanda. We have failed”.

Anyidoho, a Ghanaian officer serving as UNAMIR Deputy Force Commander and Commander of the Ghanaian contingent, refused to accept defeat.

“We have not failed,” he replied. “Ghanaians will stay. We will not leave the people of Rwanda”.

A Decision Guided by Conscience

Anyidoho sought and obtained approval from the government of Ghana, then led by President Jerry John Rawlings, to retain a residual force to help address the deteriorating security situation.

“At a time when the UN in New York was contemplating the decision to close down its mission in Rwanda in view of the deteriorating security situation, I said to myself as an African General playing a role in the mission, ‘we cannot turn our backs on Rwanda,'” Anyidoho later recalled.

The Ghanaian contingent, alongside Senegalese and Tunisian peacekeepers, chose to remain when many countries withdrew. Colonel Clayton Yaache, then sector commander of the Demilitarized Zone and later Head of the Humanitarian Assistance Cell, reflected on that decision:

“We did not stay because we had superior weapons or a clear mandate. In truth, we had neither. We stayed because there was something deep within us, something beyond protocol or orders”.

The Ghanaian battalion was led by Anyidoho, with then Lieutenant-Colonel Joseph Adinkrah serving as Commanding Officer. Together, they made a decision for their under-resourced and outnumbered forces to stay behind and hold their position to protect thousands of civilians who sought refuge at UN facilities.

Witnesses to Horror, Agents of Hope

The peacekeepers who remained bore witness to unimaginable atrocities. Churches, schools, and hospitals became killing sites. Identity cards identifying people as Hutu, Tutsi, or Twa determined life or death at roadblocks that appeared within hours of the president’s assassination.

“We were witnesses to machetes that silenced innocent lives. We saw churches, once sacred, turned into killing chambers. The smell of death haunted us. The screams, many of them children, still echo in our memory,” Yaache recounted.

Despite the horror, the Ghanaian peacekeepers performed extraordinary acts of bravery. Yaache recalled rescuing more than 160 people trapped at Hotel des Mille Collines, an evacuation that faced serious challenges including threats from militia who threatened to throw grenades. Through prolonged negotiations lasting from 8:30 in the morning until about 10pm, the group was successfully transferred to safety.

Serving under UNAMIR, the peacekeepers could not stop the genocide, but they saved countless lives.

Recognition and Remembrance

The world would later acknowledge its failure. In 2018, the UN General Assembly formally adopted the designation “Genocide against the Tutsi in Rwanda” and established an annual day of reflection.

Rwanda has never forgotten those who stayed.

On July 4, 2022, President Paul Kagame conferred the country’s National Order of Bravery (Indengabaganizi) on Major General Henry Kwami Anyidoho and Major General Joseph Narh Adinkra.

“A genocide produces no heroes, and simply doing one’s duty required exceptional courage like these generals did,” President Kagame said at the ceremony. “The Ghanaian battalion saved countless lives under the most difficult circumstances. Where others fled or were withdrawn by their governments, leaving Rwandans to their fate, these officers remained and continued to lead their men and women, and did what was right to do”.

In June 2026, Rwanda and Ghana constructed two permanent monuments at Burma Camp in Accra—the Kwibuka Flame of Hope and the Ghana Contingent Monument—honouring victims of the genocide and the Ghanaian peacekeepers who refused to abandon Rwanda. The monuments, constructed by the Government of Rwanda, stand as a permanent tribute to the sacrifices of the Ghana Armed Forces.

At an unveiling event recently, Foreign Affairs Minister Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa praised the decision of the Rawlings administration to keep Ghanaian troops in Rwanda, noting:

“Many more thousands would have been killed but for their rare courage and the extraordinary decision of the Government of President Jerry John Rawlings not to withdraw our troops as other governments did”.

For Anyidoho, the recognition belongs to all who served.

“I am privileged to receive this medal on behalf of officers and troops who stood behind me to ensure that, together we made humble contributions to ensuring peace retained in Rwanda,” he said. “I dedicate this medal to the heroes who paid their ultimate price and those who bore the scars of sharpened wounds in their bodies”.

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Ghana News

Top News Headlines from Ghanaian Newspapers: Tuesday, August 25, 2026

Published

8 minutes ago

August 25, 2026

GNG Staff

Ghana’s major news outlets on Tuesday, August 25, 2026, lead with a mix of high-stakes political drama, government interventions in the mining sector, and pressing economic developments. The headlines are dominated by the escalating legal battle between Minority Leader Alexander Afenyo-Markin and GoldBod CEO Sammy Gyamfi over extortion allegations, while President Mahama’s administration moves to rescue the struggling Adamus Resources mine and fends off scrutiny over GoldBod’s financial losses.

1. The Daily Banner
BaWumia Throws Weight Behind Afenyo-Markin

2. Spyder
Cash-Strapped House of Chiefs Grounds Justice

3. The Hawk
Buah Revokes Presidency Rescues Adamus / Paul Afoko Files for NPP Chairmanship

4. Daybreak
Bagbin to Admit Minority’s GoldBod Motion / NLA Staff Suspend Strike

5. The Business Analyst
GoldBod Rejects GH¢1bn Overdraft Allegation

6. The Daily Searchlight
I Believe In Afenyo-Markin! – Bawumia Affirms

7. Business & Financial Times
Mining Chamber Urges Shift from Local Content to Local Capability

8. Daily Post
NDC Formally Notifies Bagbin of James Agalga’s Appointment as Majority Leader

9. The Dispatch
Mahama Intervenes to Save Adamus Mine

10. The Chronicle
I’m Ready to Face OSP – Afenyo-Markin Sues Sammy Gyamfi

11. Daily Guide
Adamus Resources Welcomes Turnaround Plan

12. The Ghanaian Times
Cutting Waste Key to Economic Disaster Looms at Ashaiman

13. Daily Graphic
FDI Inflows Jump to $2.62bn After 2-Year Decline

Ghana News

American Expats in Ghana Get a Helping Hand to Vote in 2026 U.S. Midterm Elections

Published

23 hours ago

August 24, 2026

GNG Staff

With the 2026 U.S. midterm elections fast approaching, American citizens living in Ghana are receiving a timely boost to ensure their voices are heard from thousands of miles away.

The Vote from Abroad Team in Ghana is set to host a specialized voter registration and assistance event this weekend, designed to navigate the complexities of overseas voting.

The event is scheduled for Saturday, August 29, at 2:00 PM (Ghana time) at Theia’s Coffee House in the Airport Residential Area of Accra. Volunteers will be on the ground to provide trained assistance, guiding participants through the process of registering to vote and requesting their absentee ballots. The organizers have set a goal to register at least 50 new overseas voters in a single afternoon.

“This is a crucial opportunity,” said Lenny Baer, a volunteer with the Vote from Abroad Team in Ghana. “Many US citizens often don’t realize they can vote from overseas. We can, and our votes help determine the outcome of elections across the US.”

Why This Outreach Matters

This initiative is part of a broader effort by Democrats Abroad, the official arm of the Democratic Party representing Americans living outside the United States . The organization operates a volunteer-run network with chapters on six continents, working to protect the voting rights of the estimated 9 million Americans living abroad .

While the event is hosted by Democrats Abroad, the organizers emphasize that it is open to all U.S. citizens living in Ghana, irrespective of political party affiliation . This nonpartisan approach to voter assistance is a core tenant of the organization’s mission, reflecting their commitment to helping any American facing voting challenges . Through their platform, VoteFromAbroad.org, they provide a public service that helps citizens register and participate in elections regardless of their political leanings .

Midterm elections historically see lower voter turnout than presidential elections, particularly among overseas voters who often face bureaucratic hurdles or are simply unaware of their eligibility . With all 435 House seats and approximately 36 Senate seats up for grabs in 2026, every single vote—including those from Accra—holds the potential to tip the balance of power in Congress .

How to Participate

For those unable to attend the event in person, organizers have confirmed that a virtual session will be held simultaneously . Interested voters can RSVP through the VoteFromAbroad.org platform to receive the online meeting link and receive the same level of one-on-one assistance in completing their ballot request forms.

Trained voting assistants will also be available to answer questions, help participants complete their Federal Post Card Application (FPCA)—the standard federal form needed to request a ballot—and ensure that their voting rights are protected .

For Americans in Ghana, this Saturday’s event is more than just a registration drive; it is a critical lifeline to the democratic process back home, ensuring that their geographic distance does not translate into political silence.

Ghana News

Top Headlines from Ghanaian Newspapers: Monday, August 24, 2026

Published

24 hours ago

August 24, 2026

GNG Staff

Monday, August 24, 2026 – Ghana’s front pages are dominated by a fierce political standoff over GoldBod’s massive financial losses, a significant government U-turn granting a lifeline to Adamus Resources, and a highly competitive race for NPP national executive positions ahead of the 2028 elections.

1. The GoldBod $1.7bn Loss Saga: War of Words Escalates
The Minority in Parliament is refusing to back down on the GoldBod losses, while the state gold company’s CEO faces intense scrutiny.

“No Distraction: Afenyo-Markin, Minority Sustain Heat …On $1.7bn Gold Loss” (Day Break), with The Daily Statesman stating “PERSONAL ATTACKS WON’T DISTRACT US.”
The Source reports “Sammy Gyamfi’s Extortion Claim False – Afenyo-Markin,” while The Inquisitor and The Daily Gist note the Minority Leader is “Threatening Legal Action” over the allegation.
The Informer headlines “Minority Hauls GoldBod CEO Before Parliament” over the controversy.
NewsCentra digs into the numbers, reporting “GH¢29.1bn Gold Losses In 4 Years – The role of GoldBod and BoG explained,” while The Custodian leads with “Minority Vows To Probe GH¢22bn Gold Trading Loss.”

2. Mahama Intervenes: The Adamus U-Turn
President John Dramani Mahama has stepped into the heated standoff between the Lands Ministry and Adamus Resources, granting the mining giant a 12-month reprieve.

Daily Democrat and The Insight lead with “Mahama Rescues Adamus Resources” / “Gives Adamus Reprieve.”
The Daily Banner and The Ghanaian Publisher frame this as a “Government Flip-Flop Questioned” or a “U-Turn.”
The Informer reports the President “Gives Company Amnesty To Operate Under New Arrangement.”

3. NPP Internal Elections: 50 Battle for Top Posts
The race for the NPP’s national executive positions is officially underway, drawing a massive field of candidates.

Daily Guide reports “50 Battle For NPP Top Posts,” while The Source and NewsCentra note “50 Aspirants Chase 11 Positions.”
The Chronicle and The Daily Gist report “Afoko Files Chairmanship Papers Morrow” (Tuesday).
In the Communications Director race, Daily Analyst and The Source report “Gordon Asare-Bediako withdraws from NPP Communications Race …Endorses Dennis Miracles Aboagye.”
Republic Press highlights the upcoming internal vote with “50 Battle For NPP National Executive Posts.”

4. Galamsey, Security, and Public Health

Daily Analyst leads with a tragic report: “Kakum Forest Reserve Wildlife Guard Shot Dead.”
The Daily Statesman reports “Galamsey destroys over 100 acres of farmland,” while The Informer quotes the Interior Minister vowing to “Get Tough!” on illegal mining.
On the health front, Daily Analyst and The Exclusive report Ghana’s plan to “Reverse 70% Medicine Imports Through 24-Hour Economy,” while Daily Democrat notes a “GMTF, Atlantic Lifesciences Partner to Cut Drug Costs.”

5. Economy, Banking, and Tax

Graphic Business leads with a major fiscal milestone: “Ghana now spends less than 20% on servicing debt.” This is supported by The Custodian, which reports “Ghana Signs €163m Debt Restructuring Deal With Belgium.”
B&FT highlights “Gov’t weighs lifting grain export ban …amid 70,000mt rice glut.” The paper also reports “Robust investor confidence in economy returns …local investments hit US$816m, FDIs US$2.62bn.”
Graphic Business also flags the “23 banks, one dollar, many prices” phenomenon, exposing varying FX costs across banks.

6. Judicial and Political Fallout

Republic Press reports the “Supreme Court clears way for legal vacation criminal trials …Dismisses Oppong Nkrumah’s injunction bid,” a ruling also confirmed by Daily Guide.
The Daily Gist reports a tragic cross-border incident: “Man Drowns While Helping Travellers Cross Ghana-Togo River.”