The Ghana Armed Forces (GAF) has expressed its disappointment over the negative twist and misconception in respect of the increment of peacekeeping allowances for troops as announced by the president on Thursday.

It observed that the comments which have gone viral on various social media platforms are unfortunate and aimed at creating disaffection in respect of an otherwise genuine concern to promote troops welfare.

In a statement released and signed by the Director Public Relations of the GAF Colonel E Aggrey-Quashie, it said; “It must be noted that the monthly rate per soldier as paid by the United Nations since July 2014 had been pegged at $1,332.00 out of which $900.00 each was paid to the soldiers on a monthly basis with the remainder expended on pre-operational training activities which includes feeding, clothing, medicals and other logistics and ancillary services”

Read Full Statement Below:

MISCONCEPTION ABOUT INCREMENT IN PEACEKEEPING ALLOWANCE

The attention of the Ghana Armed Forces has been drawn to misconception and negative comments especially on social media in respect of the increment of peacekeeping allowances by $31.00 per month as announced by the President at an all ranks durbar in Burma Camp on Thursday 11 August 2016.

It must be noted that the monthly rate per soldier as paid by the United Nations since July 2014 had been pegged at $1,332.00 out of which $900.00 each was paid to the soldiers on a monthly basis with the remainder expended on pre-operational training activities which includes feeding, clothing, medicals and other logistics and ancillary services.

With effect from July 2016 the United Nations increased the monthly rate by $32.00 (approx.$1.06 per day) hence the decision by government to accordingly increase the monthly allowances to troops by $31.00 per month (approx $1.00 per day). Invariably the increment by the United Nations has all been passed to the troops.

It is therefore unfortunate, the negative comments being circulated in a cross section of the media and on social media aimed at creating disaffection in respect of an otherwise genuine concern to promote troops welfare.

The Ghana Armed Forces acknowledges that peacekeeping allowances for troops have from time immemorial been increased by government in accordance with United Nations’ periodic increments. In this particular case, the $32.00 increment by the UN has virtually been passed on to troops.

The negative comments therefore being circulated intended to downplay the efforts in promoting troops welfare by government is in bad state and does not augur for the cohesion of the Ghana Armed Forces.

E AGGREY-QUASHIE

Colonel

Director Public Relations