The Ghana Armed Forces (GAF) has dismissed claims that the United Nations pays Ghanaian peacekeeping troops $300 per day, describing the assertions as a deliberate attempt to incite personnel against the military high command.

Speaking at a press conference in Accra today, the Acting Director-General of Public Relations of the Ghana Armed Forces, Captain Veronica Adzo Arhin, explained that the UN pays an average of $46 per day to troop-contributing countries, amounting to about $1,428 per month per soldier. She stressed that these figures are publicly available and can be verified online.

She said that out of the $46 per day, the government pays $35 directly to the soldier, while the remaining $11 is used to support troop welfare and mission-related logistics.

“These funds go into several areas, including pre-operational training, logistics support, welfare provisions in the mission area such as internet services, and morale-boosting activities,” she said.

How funds are utilised

Captain Arhin noted that before deployment, troops undergo six weeks of pre-operational training at Bundase, which requires significant logistical and financial investment. She added that additional support is provided during festive seasons, including Christmas programmes for battalions on mission, all funded by the government.

She further disclosed that delegations are periodically sent from Ghana to mission areas to boost morale, assess conditions on the ground and assure personnel that command is closely monitoring their welfare and performance.

“These monies and more are what the remaining $11 is used for. Beyond that, the government adds extra funding to ensure the safety, welfare and comfort of our troops before, during and after missions,” she said.

Responsible journalism

Captain Arhin urged the public, particularly media practitioners, to reject what she described as attempts to mislead the public and undermine the Ghana Armed Forces.

“We wish to state emphatically that the purported story of the UN paying anything more than 46 dollars per day is mischievous and must be rejected by all well-meaning Ghanaians,” she said, adding that responsible journalism requires the verification of facts that are readily available.

While commending the media for its support and constructive criticism over the years, she reminded journalists that freedom comes with responsibility, stressing that actions that undermine the GAF ultimately affect national security.

“When our military high command faces such challenges, the whole country suffers,” she cautioned.

Accommodation challenges

Touching on accommodation challenges within the GAF, Captain Arhin acknowledged that the extension of service years by five years has placed additional pressure on available housing, especially at a time when recruitment has increased due to insecurity in the sub-region.

However, she announced that the Chief of the Defence Staff has directed that work on 700 new accommodation blocks will commence next year, alongside the completion of all stalled housing projects.

“These interventions will drastically reduce accommodation challenges, though I cannot say the problem will be completely eliminated,” she assured.

She reiterated a call for national unity and support for the GAF, stressing that the country’s stability depends on strong institutions and collective responsibility.