The Ghana Armed Forces (GAF) has dismissed reports suggesting that United Nations peacekeeping soldiers from Ghana receive more daily allowances than officially declared, describing the claims as false and intended to incite discontent among troops.
Speaking on the issue, Capt. Naval Veronica Adzo Arhin, Director General of Public Relations at GAF, clarified that each Ghanaian peacekeeper is entitled to a total of 46 dollars per day, an amount paid by the United Nations. Of that sum, the Government of Ghana directly pays 35 dollars per soldier per day, with the remaining 11 dollars retained to support troop welfare and mission-related logistics.
She stressed that the UN does not pay any additional allowance beyond the 46 dollars, noting that figures circulating on social media suggesting otherwise are misleading. “Any report claiming the UN pays more than this amount is mischievous and aimed at inciting troops against command,” she said.
According to Capt. Arhin, the 11-dollar balance is reinvested into troop support. This includes a 700-dollar allowance given to soldiers when they return home on leave, pre-deployment logistics such as six weeks of intensive training at the Bundase Training Camp, and welfare provisions during missions.
She explained that additional support covers internet access in mission areas, welfare programs during festive seasons such as Christmas, and the organization of battalion activities. Funds are also used to facilitate medal parades and to send delegations from Ghana to mission areas to boost morale and assure troops of continued command support.
“These visits are very important to soldiers on mission. Seeing a delegation from home reassures them that their service is valued and monitored,” she said.
Capt. Arhin added that the government provides extra funding beyond the UN allowance to ensure the safety, comfort and well-being of personnel before, during and after deployment.
She urged journalists and the public to verify information independently, noting that UN peacekeeping rates are publicly available online. “The UN rate averages about 1,428 dollars a month, which comes to roughly 46 dollars a day. This is easily verifiable,” she said.
GAF called on the public to reject what it described as deliberate attempts to spread misinformation and undermine morale within the ranks.