The United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL) has on Friday, 4 August 2023 held a memorial service for Warrant Officer Class II (WOII) Abubakari Ibrahim, a Ghanaian Peacekeeper of GHANBATT 89 who lost his life in a road traffic accident on 28 July 2023 while serving with the Blue Beret. The solemn ceremony which saw UNIFIL Head of Mission and Force Commander, Major General (Maj Gen) Aroldo Lázaro Saenz, representatives of Lebanese Armed Forces (LAF) and other dignitaries present to bid farewell to the late peacekeeper took place at the Rafik Hariri International Airport in Beirut, Lebanon.

Head of Mission and Force Commander of UNIFIL Maj Gen Aroldo Lazaro Saenz awarded the UN Medal to the mortal remains of WOII Abubakari I in recognition of his participation in UNIFIL while Brigadier General (Brig Gen) Tarek Mrad, a representative of LAF Commander awarded late WOII Abubakari I with a Lebanese medal in recognition of his role as part of the Ghanaian contingent in maintaining peace and stability in South Lebanon.

A wreath laying ceremony saw the Force Commander, Representative of the Lebanese Armed Forces, the Honourary Consul of Ghana to Lebanon His Excellency (HE) Ali Samih Jaafar, the Sector West Commander, Brig Gen Giovbanni Bafra Musicoro and the Ghanaian Contingent Commander, Colonel (Col) Francis Anemana lay wreaths and pay their last respects in honour of the deceased.

In the condolence remarks of Maj Gen Aroldo Lazaro Saenz, thanked Ghana and his family for the opportunity to have served for the United Nations. He paid tribute to the service and sacrifice of all fallen peacekeepers making mention of two Ghanaian Peacekeepers serving with GHANBATT 89 who had passed on earlier.

The Late WOII Abubakari Ibrahim was Born on 16 September 1978 and hails from Bogu of the Upper East Region of Ghana. He was enlisted into the Ghana Armed Forces on 8 July 2004 and served for 19 years with pride and dedication until his untimely demise. As a veteran peacekeeper, he served with the United Nations Organization Stabilization Mission in the DR Congo (MONUSCO),  United Nations Mission in Liberia (UNMIL), United Nations Mission in South Sudan (UNMISS) and had two tours with UNIFIL. Prior to his third deployment with UNIFIL, he was a Physical Training Instructor of the Ghana Armed Forces Jungle Warfare School. He is survived by a wife and children. WOII Abubakari Ibrahim has since being laid to rest on arrival of the mortal remains in Ghana on Saturday, 5 August 2023.