Ghanaian Humanitarian Edem Wosornu Appointed UNHCR Assistant High Commissioner for Protection
United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres has appointed Ghanaian humanitarian expert Edem Wosornu as Assistant High Commissioner for Protection at the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR).
Ms Wosornu succeeds Ruvendrini Menikdiwela of Sri Lanka, whose service to the global refugee cause has been commended by both the Secretary-General and the UN High Commissioner for Refugees.
Her appointment marks another significant milestone for Ghana on the global stage, reflecting the country’s growing influence in international humanitarian leadership.
Ms Wosornu currently serves as Director of the Crisis Response Division at the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA), a role she has held since 2023. In that capacity, she oversees global emergency operations and leads system-wide coordination across major humanitarian crises. She also chairs the Inter-Agency Standing Committee Emergency Directors Group.
With over two decades of experience in humanitarian affairs, Ms Wosornu brings extensive expertise in emergency response, strategic coordination, and field operations to her new role at UNHCR.
Her career within the United Nations system spans both headquarters and field assignments. She previously served as Chief of the Response Support Branch in Geneva from 2021 to 2023, Head of Office in Nigeria between 2018 and 2020, and in Somalia from 2014 to 2015. She also held roles as Chief of the Strategic Planning, Evaluations and Guidance Section in New York, Chief of the Asia-Pacific Section, and Deputy Head of Office in Somalia.
Earlier in her career, she undertook critical assignments in Darfur in Sudan, Pakistan during earthquake relief operations, Yemen, and worked in legal protection roles with UNHCR in Sudan.
Ms Wosornu began her journey with the United Nations as an intern at UNHCR, following a stint in private legal practice in the United Kingdom.
She holds a Bachelor of Laws (LL.B) from the University of Hull, a Master of Laws (LL.M) in International Banking and Finance Law from University College London, and a Postgraduate Diploma in Legal Studies from the College of Law in London.
Fluent in English and Fante, with some knowledge of Ewe and a working level of French, Ms Wosornu is expected to bring a wealth of experience and a global perspective to her new role, where she will help shape international protection policies for refugees worldwide.
Click the link Puretvonline.com | WhatsApp Channel to join the WhatsApp channel
GOT A STORY?
Contact/WhatsApp: +233243201960 or manuelnkansah33@gmail.com
