Today, UNIFIL and the Lebanese Armed Forces (LAF) held a ceremony to pay their respects to Warrant Officer Class 1 George Ayim, a Ghanaian peacekeeper who died from cardiac arrest on 4 February 2025, while serving with UNIFIL.

At a solemn ceremony at Rafik Hariri International Airport, UNIFIL Head of Mission and Force Commander Lieutenant-General Aroldo Lázaro, along with representatives from the Lebanese Army, the Ghanaian Embassy, and UNIFIL’s Ghanaian Contingent, laid wreaths in his memory.

Warrant Officer Ayim, who was 47 years old when he died, was posthumously awarded the UNIFIL and LAF medals in recognition of his dedicated service to UNIFIL’s mission in south Lebanon.

On behalf of UNIFIL and all peacekeepers, Lt. Gen. Lázaro expressed his deepest condolences to Warrant Officer Ayim’sfamily, friends, and fellow peacekeepers.

Warrant Officer Ayim served in the Ghana Armed Forces for 22years and was known for his dedication and professionalism. He joined UNIFIL on 8 September 2024 as a bass guitarist with the Ghanaian Contingent. This was his third deployment to Lebanon, having previously served in 2012 and 2018.

“Serving as a peacekeeper is a calling that demands commitment, courage, and selfless dedication, and Ayim George embodied these qualities in every aspect of his service,” said Lt. Gen. Lázaro.

Since 1978, 339 UNIFIL peacekeepers have lost their lives while serving in south Lebanon.

“His memory will live on in your hearts, in our mission, and in the legacy he leaves behind,” Lt. Gen. Lázaro concluded.