Peacekeeper airfare and HIV recruitment claims false and misleading – GAF

The Ghana Armed Forces has described as false and misleading media reports alleging the exploitation of Ghanaian peacekeepers in Lebanon and high failure rates in military recruitment due to HIV.

In two press releases issued by the Department of Public Relations at the General Headquarters in Burma Camp on Sunday January 25, 2026, the Armed Forces said the publications contained misinformation capable of weakening troop morale and public confidence in the military.

One report claimed that Ghanaian peacekeepers serving with the United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon had been barred from shopping outside their camps and were forced to pay for their own airfares when travelling to Ghana on leave.

In response, the Ghana Armed Forces said UNIFIL Force Headquarters had supported the setting up of eleven shops operated by local Lebanese traders within two Ghanaian Battalion locations.

These were in addition to a Post Exchange shop run by the Battalion. The military explained that this arrangement, also used by other contingents under UNIFIL, gives troops several shopping options, contrary to claims that they were restricted to a single outlet.

On air travel, the Armed Forces said the government of Ghana continues to fully pay for flights for all Ghana Armed Forces personnel on peacekeeping duties, including those deployed to Lebanon.

In a separate statement, the GAF rejected reports suggesting that about 60 per cent of applicants who underwent military medical screening had tested positive for HIV. The military described the claim as “fake news” and said the medical screening process was still ongoing, with no official results released.

The Armed Forces said steps were being taken to identify those behind what it called a “mischievous story” and advised the public to disregard the reports.

In both statements, the Ghana Armed Forces warned that the spread of unverified information could weaken discipline and morale within the ranks and damage Ghana’s image abroad. The military called on journalists, content creators and bloggers to verify facts thoroughly before publication.