The United Nations Secretary-General, António Manuel de Oliveira Guterres, says he is “deeply saddened” to learn of the death of Ghana’s first female Brigadier-General, Constance Emefa Edjeani-Afenu.
A statement issued Tuesday and signed by Spokesperson for the Secretary-General, Stephane Dujarric, described the late Brigadier Edjeani-Afenu, who was also the first female Deputy Force Commander in the United Nations Mission for the Referendum in Western Sahara (MINURSO), as “a true pioneer and made history in peacekeeping.”
The late Brigadier-General also served in United Nations peacekeeping operations in Lebanon, Liberia and the Democratic Republic of Congo.
“Brigadier Edjeani-Afenu will be remembered for her distinguished service in these missions, as well as her tireless work to promote inclusiveness and increase the number of women in the peacekeeping operations where she served,” the statement noted.
The statement said the Secretary-General also offered his “heartfelt condolences to her family, to the people and the Government of the Republic of Ghana.” 
Constance Ama Emefa Edjeani-Afenu joined the Ghana Armed Forces (GAF) in 1978 and became the country’s first female Brigadier General.
Almost four decades after entering the army, she made history when she rose through the ranks to become the first female Brigadier-General of the Armed Forces on March 7, 2016.
Her appointment was ratified in March 2017 when the Chief of Defence Staff (CDS) Major – General Obed Boamah Akwa, conferred the rank on her.
