The Ghana Armed Forces (GAF) has dismissed claims circulating in sections of the media suggesting that Ghanaian peacekeepers serving with the United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL) are being exploited.
In a statement signed by the Acting Director General of Public Relations, Captain (Ghana Navy) Veronica Adzo Arhin, the military clarified that reports alleging troops have been banned from shopping outside camp and forced to pay for their own airfare during leave to Ghana are inaccurate.
According to GAF, the restrictions on movement outside the camp are linked to the volatile security situation in UNIFIL’s area of operations, and not an attempt to exploit personnel. To address the situation, UNIFIL Force Headquarters has facilitated the establishment of 11 shops operated by local Lebanese vendors within two Ghana Battalion (GHANBATT) locations, in addition to one Post Exchange shop run by the battalion.
“This arrangement gives troops several options to purchase items and not rely solely on the Post Exchange shop, contrary to what has been reported,” the statement said.
On the issue of leave travel, the Armed Forces stressed that Ghanaian peacekeepers are not required to pay for their own airfare. “The allegation that troops pay for their own airfare during leave to Ghana is untrue,” Captain Arhin stated, adding that the Government of Ghana continues to fully fund air travel for all Ghana Armed Forces peacekeepers, including those serving with UNIFIL.
GAF warned that the spread of such misinformation has serious consequences for troop welfare and national reputation. “Such misinformation undermines the discipline and morale of troops and could further tarnish the image of the country,” the statement noted.
The Armed Forces, therefore, appealed to media practitioners to verify information thoroughly before publication, especially on sensitive national security and peacekeeping matters.
Ghana has contributed troops to UN peacekeeping missions for decades and remains one of the leading troop-contributing countries in Africa, with personnel deployed in several conflict and post-conflict zones around the world.
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Source: www.myjoyonline.com
