The retired personnel of the Ghana Armed Forces (GAF) will receive payment of long-standing gratuity arrears under Constitutional Instrument (CI) 129 on Friday, February 25, following government approval.

Gratuity is a lump-sum payment given to an employee when they leave a job, usually as a form of financial reward for long service or retirement.

A total of two hundred and thirty-eight (238) officers and two thousand, one hundred and fifty-five (2,155) retired soldiers are expected to receive the gratuity arrears, which date back five years.

The payments will be made in four installments from February 2026 to December 2027 under the new gratuity formula.

The new development brings closure to a matter that had remained unresolved since 2020 and ensures that affected personnel and all others who will retire subsequently receive their full entitlements at the correct rate.

This was revealed by the Department of Public Relations at General Headquarters, Burma Camp, the Ghana Armed Forces, in a statement issued on Wednesday, February 25.

The statement said, “Government has approved and will commence payment of gratuity arrears for all retired military personnel under the implementation of Constitutional Instrument (CI) 129. The first tranche will be released by close of business on Friday, February 27”.

In a related development aimed at boosting welfare for another branch of the nation’s uniformed services, the Minister for Interior, Muntaka Mohammed-Mubarak, announced in 2025 a GHC 100,000 insurance package for personnel of the Ghana National Fire Service (GNFS) who sustain permanent injuries in the line of duty.

The scheme also provides GH₵50,000 for non-permanent injuries, GH₵100,000 for deaths in active service, and GH₵50,000 for natural deaths while in service.

The announcement was made during his address as Special Guest of Honour and Reviewing Officer at the passing-out ceremony of 1,658 recruits (Course 55) on June 20 at the Fire Academy and Training School in Jamestown, Accra.

Hon. Muntaka emphasized that the insurance package is designed to boost morale and ensure financial security for officers injured or killed in their line of duty.

“This is just the beginning. We are committed to improving welfare packages, logistics support, and working conditions for our gallant fire officers, whose sacrifices often go unnoticed,” he stated.

The ceremony marked the successful completion of 28 weeks of rigorous training, covering theoretical instruction and practical skills in fire science, first aid, fire prevention, electrical safety, breathing apparatus operations, and more.

Four recruits were recognized for exceptional performance: Samuel Kenneth Ayibontey as Overall Best Recruit, Anamfo Gerrard Adombila as Best in Academics, Emmanuel Addo Ahunu as Best in Foot Drill, and Anita Awagah with the Commandant’s Award for Best Conduct.

Hon. Muntaka encouraged the new officers to uphold values of integrity, courage, and selflessness, emphasizing that their journey had just begun.

He also highlighted challenges facing the Service, including prank calls to emergency lines and the need for public cooperation in fire prevention.

The graduation of Course 55 represents a significant milestone in modernizing the GNFS. With enhanced training, improved welfare support, and growing public awareness, Ghana’s firefighting force is better equipped than ever to respond effectively to emergencies and protect communities nationwide.

Together, these developments the disbursement of long-delayed gratuity arrears for retired GAF personnel and the introduction of a comprehensive insurance package for GNFS officers underscore the government’s commitment to ensuring the welfare, security, and recognition of Ghana’s uniformed services.