Major General Anita Asmah of Ghana has been appointed as the new Head of Mission and Force Commander of the United Nations Disengagement Observer Force (UNDOF) by United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres. She'll be taking over the role in January 2025, succeeding Lieutenant General Nirmal Kumar Thapa of Nepal .

This historic appointment marks another milestone for Ghana, as Major General Asmah becomes the third female officer from the Ghana Armed Forces (GAF) to hold a top UN position in recent years . She's also the second Ghanaian military officer to assume a senior role within the United Nations.

Major General Asmah brings over three decades of leadership and operational experience to her new role, having served the Ghana Armed Forces and the United Nations in various capacities . Her peacekeeping experience is extensive, including roles as a Staff Officer with the United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL) and as a Military Observer with the United Nations Organisation Mission in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (MONUC) .

Within the Ghana Armed Forces, Major General Asmah has held several prominent positions, including Director of Education, Deputy Military Secretary, and Course Director at the Kofi Annan International Peacekeeping Training Centre . She's highly educated, holding a Bachelor of Arts degree and a Bachelor of Laws (LLB) degree from the University of Ghana, and is fluent in English and French .