Honouring service, restoring dignity
President John Dramani Mahama has directed for the immediate release of funds for the payment of retirement gratuity arrears owed to personnel of the Ghana Armed Forces (GAF) (See front page).
This is a timely and commendable intervention that speaks to responsible leadership and an appreciation of national service.
For retired officers and men who devoted decades of their lives to the defence of Ghana, the decision is a restoration of dignity long delayed.
The arrears, amounting to more than GH¢1 billion and affecting about 3,000 retired personnel, arose from the implementation of Constitutional Instrument (CI) 129 in 2020. While the policy was well-intentioned seeking to retain experienced officers and strengthen institutional continuity, it was introduced without the requisite budgetary provisions to sustain its implications.
The obvious results were mounting arrears, prolonged uncertainty, and undue hardship for those who had already completed their service to the nation.
The Daily Graphic commends President Mahama for the candid acknowledgment of this policy failure, and his resolve to address it decisively.
His instruction to the Minister of Finance to begin payments for the 1995 and 1996 year groups, while steps are taken to clear the outstanding CI 129 arrears, demonstrates a pragmatic and humane approach to governance.
It also sends a reassuring signal to serving personnel that their sacrifices will not be forgotten once they hang up their uniforms.
Beyond the gratuity issue, the President’s address at the West African Soldiers Social Activities (WASSA) highlights a broader commitment to improving the welfare and operational capacity of the GAF.
Announcements of a new salary structure effective March, the settlement of salary arrears, the commissioning of new vehicles, plans to construct 10,000 housing units, and the regeneration of barracks collectively reflect a government intent on strengthening morale within the ranks.
Equally significant are the measures aimed at enhancing national security, including the opening of forward operating bases in the north, plans to establish a cyber and electronic warfare centre, and the procurement of modern equipment for the Army, Navy and Air Force.
In an era of evolving security threats—from terrorism to cyber warfare—these initiatives are necessities for safeguarding Ghana’s territorial integrity.
Yet, the issue of accumulated arrears raises a fundamental question: why should a nation wait for obligations to pile up before honouring those who have given their working lives to its defence?
At the gate of the Military Academy and Training School (MATS) is an inscription that reads: “We defend the nation at the peril of our lives.”
We know from the duties, responsibilities and activities of the military that this is not a rhetorical flourish.
It captures the reality of military service, where men and women accept, as part of their calling, the possibility of ultimate sacrifice.
In many jurisdictions, soldiers and veterans are accorded deep social reverence and tangible support.
From comprehensive pension systems and healthcare packages to housing, education benefits and ceremonial honours, societies recognise that military service carries unique risks and demands.
Veterans are not made to chase entitlements; their welfare is treated as a matter of national honour.
Ghana must aspire to this standard.
The very least the nation can do for its soldiers—both serving and retired—is to ensure timely payment of salaries, pensions and gratuities, decent accommodation, and access to health care.
These are certainly obligations rooted in fairness and gratitude.
We posit that President Mahama’s directive, therefore, should mark a turning point.
It must be accompanied by institutional reforms that prevent the recurrence of unfunded policies and the accumulation of arrears.
Defence planning must be matched with sustainable budgeting, so that future retirees are spared years of uncertainty after years of service.
In commending the President and his government for these initiatives, the Daily Graphic hopes that Ghana will continue to move toward a culture that honours its military not only in words and ceremonies, but in concrete actions that ensure comfort in service and dignity in retirement.
A nation that is secure is one that takes care of those who stand ready to defend it, at the cost of their lives.
