The UN secretary-general has mourned as a “true pioneer” Ghana’s first female brigadier general, Constance Emefa Edjeani-Afenu, who died on Monday.

Antonio Guterres paid tribute to Brig Gen Edjeani-Afenu for making history in peacekeeping as the first female deputy force commander of a UN mission in Western Sahara.

During her more than 40 years of military service she served in numerous UN peacekeeping missions - including in Lebanon, Liberia and the Democratic Republic of Congo.

The UN chief hailed her as having worked hard to promote gender inclusiveness and increasing the number of women serving in the military.