The Chief of the Defence Staff (CDS), Lieutenant General (Lt Gen) William Agyapong, has paid a goodwill visit to two retired senior non-commissioned officers at their residences in Kumasi in the Ashanti Region.
He called on former Forces Sergeant Major (FSM), Ex-Chief Warrant Officer (CWO) Adu Yaw Daniel, and former Academy Sergeant Major (ASM) of the Ghana Military Academy (GMA), Warrant Officer Class One (WOI) Ali Nakyea Seidu.
The visit formed part of a broader initiative to honour the distinguished service of retired personnel, assess their welfare, and tap into their institutional knowledge for the continued development of the Ghana Armed Forces (GAF).
It also provided an opportunity to explore additional ways the Service can support its veterans.
During the engagements, Ex-CWO Adu Yaw Daniel, who served as Forces Sergeant Major from 6 May 2009 to 30 May 2013, reflected on his 37 years of dedicated service and shared suggestions aimed at strengthening welfare systems for retired personnel. Ex-WOI Ali Nakyea Seidu commended the current leadership of the Ghana Armed Forces for what he described as impactful interventions, and urged the Military High Command to sustain professional excellence through enhanced training, merit-based appointments, and adherence to core military values of integrity and teamwork.
Discussions also focused on key welfare concerns, including spousal pensions, the GAF Benevolent Fund, and the newly introduced GAF Trust Fund.
Addressing these concerns, Lt Gen Agyapong disclosed that the Military High Command has engaged the Armed Forces Council to extend spousal pension payments from three to six months.
He explained that the measure is intended to ease the financial burden on bereaved families during transitional periods.
He further announced that the GAF Benevolent Fund has been significantly increased from GH₵500 to GH₵10,000 for beneficiaries. He also highlighted the establishment of the GAF Trust Fund, which is designed to provide immediate financial support of up to GH₵55,000 to the families of deceased serving personnel.
The initiative, he noted, is intended to cushion families pending the processing of pensions and gratuities.
In addition, the CDS explained that personnel who suffer service-related injuries will receive 30% of their assured compensation from the fund as immediate relief.
He added that contributors who exit the Service without making any claim will also receive 30% of their contributions.
On healthcare, Lt Gen Agyapong indicated that the completion of the Afari Military Hospital will significantly improve access to quality healthcare for personnel and veterans in the middle and northern sectors of the country.
In his concluding remarks, the CDS commended the retirees for their exemplary service and encouraged them to continue mentoring younger personnel by sharing their experience and upholding the traditions and values of the Armed Forces.
He reaffirmed the commitment of the GAF leadership to strengthening support systems for veterans.
Gift items and an undisclosed amount of money were presented to both ex-servicemen.
They expressed gratitude for the visit, describing it as a rare and thoughtful gesture within the Ghana Armed Forces in recent times.
They further encouraged sustained engagement between serving and retired personnel, noting that such interactions promote unity, preserve institutional memory, and strengthen mutual respect within the Service.
The CDS was accompanied by the General Officer Commanding Central Command, Brigadier General Albert Sison Ogaja; the Commanding Officer of 4 Infantry Battalion, Lieutenant Colonel Jenuni Emmanuel Wumbeidow; and other staff officers of Central Command.
By 1960news.com
