The President of the Republic, Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo, has indicated that all military personnel, as well as other members of the country’s security services, who embark on peacekeeping missions, will, from hence, receive their allowances whilst on tour and not when they arrive in Ghana, after the completion of their duty tour.
According to President Akufo-Addo, the situation which existed before his administration, where soldiers are paid their peacekeeping allowances, sometimes months after arriving in Ghana, will not be a feature of his administration.
“We will make it a principle that wherever the peacekeeping operation is, the peacekeepers will be paid there. That is the principle, and we are not going to go back on that”, he said.
The President made this known on Saturday, February 18, 2017, when he interacted with the 210 Ghanaian peacekeeping troops stationed in The Gambia, who are part of ECOWAS’ mission to that country.
President Akufo-Addo recounted how, in the run-up to the 2016 election, he indicated publicly that “in our view, those who go on peace keeping operations should be paid where they are and not when they come back to Accra.”
In fulfillment of this pledge, he told the soldiers that “as it is now, the monies that are due to you for the first half of the operation, which is up to the 20th of February, have been released to you. The fifty soldiers who are to remain here for the next three months will also have what is due you released. All of you going back to Ghana on Monday will be paid in full before you leave here (Gambia).”
This announcement by the President drew spontaneous bouts of applause and appreciation from the soldiers gathered, who described it as a feat never witnessed in the history of the Ghana Armed Forces.
The President revealed that upon his assumption of office, “I was told about the arrears on peacekeeping operations owed to soldiers. I decided to do something about it … and I ordered the release of $13 million to cater for the arrears.”
This decision, he explained, was to ensure that the morale of soldiers are boosted, and to serve as an indication of his commitment to the welfare of the Ghana Armed Forces.
Ghana and ECOWAS proud of you
With the mission to The Gambia being the first decision he had to take as President and Commander-in-Chief, President Akufo-Addo indicated that “when ECOWAS makes commitments, I believe that as good members, and members in good standing, we are required to honour those commitments.”
He noted that after consultation with the hierarchy of the Ghana Armed Forces, he decided that the request from ECOWAS for Ghana to contribute 210 soldiers to the mission in the Gambia was a good request, because it bordered on the peace and stability of a member country of ECOWAS.
“I am happy I did so because the contribution that you have made to restoring peace, security and democracy in Gambia is an exceptionally strong one. And, I am here to congratulate you on the work that you have done for ECOWAS and for Ghana. You have lifted the flag of our country high and you deserve all the praises that you are getting from the population and from everybody else,” he said.
The President continued, “Everyone I have interacted with here is telling me how professional you have been, how well-disciplined you have been, and how very thorough you have been in your work. As your Commander-in-Chief, I am very happy to hear about this report.”
President Akufo-Addo noted that the he was not so surprised about the rave reviews he received about the conduct of the Ghanaian troops in the Gambia.
“To some extent I am not surprised, because when I was Foreign Minister, some 10 years ago, one of the things that consistently buoyed up my position and gave me strength was the performance of Ghana’s Armed Forces in peacekeeping operations.
Everywhere I went in the world, it was one of the first things my colleague Foreign Ministers will tell me – ‘your soldiers are very professional, they are doing a good job’. Whether it was Cote d’Ivoire, Liberia, Somalia, wherever it was, the reports of how good Ghanaian soldiers are were all the same,” he added.
Source: Peacefmonline.com
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Thanks Mr. President for your foresight and wise decision. I would also like to remind you that pension arrears, some as much as 24 months, were not paid while Mahama was the president. He didn't care a hoot. Imagine a retired soldier who solely depends on his monthly pension being denied his only source of income! How did Mahama expect them to live, while he Mahama never missed his monthly salary. Please Mr. President consider this and ensure that all arrears owed to retiree military personnel are paid. God bless you!
The former president John D. Mahama increased the payment of peacekeepers by only one dollar. Now that you've seen and heard how hard working and discipline your soldiers are;what will be the amount you add to their peace keeping pay? And Mr President I'll like to know the amount a soldier is marked a day from UN. God bless Ghana, and make us greatest and strongest.
THE INSTANCE WHEN SOLDIERS WERE NOT PAID PEACEKEEPING ALLOWANCE IN THE MISSION AREA STARTED IN 2014/2015. UNTIL THEN ALL SOLDIERS WERE PAID IN THE PEACEKEEPING THETRES. SORRY TO SAY THAT IF YOU RECTIFY THE ANOMALY, IT WILL NOT BE THE FIRST TIME. RATHER IT HAS ALWAYS BEEN THE TREND UNTIL SOMEWHERE 2014/2015. CHECK FACTS!!! SO YOU ARE ONLY CORRECTING AN ANOMALY. THAT WILL BE NOTHING NEW.
Mr President ....am not a fun of NPP but NDC i salute you for the good work You are here for all. Please monitor the affairs of the Senior officers who are always are corrupt in keeping ...other ranks military men Please Mr President Defense Intelligence at the Ghana Armed Forces...appointed from various ranks, some are really into disrespectful manners.Such a corporal At the Defense Intelligence to not respect his fellow senior man ...who is not at the Defense intelligence. Mr President please help us check on them Salute ...H.E Commanding Chief Nana Akuffo Addo
Which peacekeepers? I expect you to condemn the chief whose factions shot at the five policemen in Ashanti Region. How are we going to survive in a nation where individuals begin to shoot at the police. Better come out with a statement to condemn that. No matter what, citizens must not shoot at the police. Ghana is becoming lawless. Even when the police say stop, the people want to go. Why? If you want to succeed better empower the security apparatus otherwise forget it.
Indeed Mr. President you keep to your words, May God almighty Strengthen you and give more wisdom to rule.
Applause!!! Good leadership. I salute!