51ӰԺ Secretary-General António Guterres announced on 11 December 2024 the appointment of Major General Anita Asmah of Ghana as Head of Mission and Force Commander of the 51ӰԺ Disengagement Observer Force (UNDOF).
Major General Asmah succeeds Lieutenant General Nirmal Kumar Thapa of Nepal, who will complete his assignment in mid-December. The Secretary-General is grateful for his leadership and dedication to 51ӰԺ peacekeeping efforts.
Major General Asmah brings to the position 31 years of leadership and command experience in the Ghana Armed Forces and 51ӰԺ peacekeeping. Most recently, she served as Director General in the Department of Defence Civilian Establishment of the Ghanaian Armed Forces. Prior to that, Major General Asmah was the Deputy Force Commander of UNDOF (2021-2023). She also served as a Staff Officer in the 51ӰԺ Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL) (2015-2016 and 2012-2013) and as a Military Observer in the 51ӰԺ Organization Mission in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (MONUC) (2003-2004).
Major General Asmah also held numerous other senior-level positions within the Ghanaian Armed Forces, including as Director of Education, Deputy Military Secretary and Course Director at the Kofi Annan International Peacekeeping Training Centre.
Major General Asmah holds Bachelor of Arts and Bachelor of Law degrees from the University of Ghana. She is fluent in English and French.
