The Ghana Armed Forces (GAF) has firmly dismissed allegations circulating in a viral video suggesting that peacekeepers are being short-changed from United Nations (UN) allowances, describing the claims as false, misleading and potentially destabilising.
Addressing a press briefing on Sunday December 14, 2025, Captain (GN) Veronica Arhin, Acting Director General of the Department of Public Relations, said the military high command had taken note of the video making “wild allegations” about the daily allowance paid by the United Nations to Ghanaian peacekeepers.
“It is never true that the United Nations pays 300 US dollars per day per soldier,” Captain Arhin stated. “The UN pays an average of 46 US dollars per day, which is approximately 1,428 dollars per month, and these figures are publicly available online for anyone to verify.”
She explained that out of the 46 dollars paid per day by the UN, the Government of Ghana pays 35 dollars directly to each soldier, while the remaining 11 dollars is used to support welfare and operational needs of peacekeeping troops.
According to her, these funds are channelled into essential areas such as pre-deployment training, logistics, troop welfare, and morale-boosting initiatives.
“Before we embark on any peacekeeping mission, our troops undergo six weeks of intensive pre-operational training at Bundase, and that training requires significant logistical support,” she noted.
Captain Arhin added that the funds also support welfare provisions in mission areas, including internet services, troop comfort, and special activities such as Christmas programmes organised by battalions on deployment and funded by the home government.
She further disclosed that Ghana regularly sends delegations to peacekeeping missions to interact with troops and boost morale.
“These delegations are meant to let our personnel know that command is interested in their welfare and appreciates their service. Anyone who has been on a mission can attest to the excitement when such delegations arrive,” she said.
Captain Arhin stressed that the remaining funds, together with additional government support, are used to ensure the safety, welfare and comfort of personnel before, during and after missions.
In her concluding remarks, she warned that the publication of false figures was mischievous and aimed at inciting troops against military leadership.
“To suggest that the UN pays anything more than 46 dollars a day is misleading and intended to incite our troops. This must be rejected by all well-meaning people,” she said.
While acknowledging the critical role of the media in a democratic society, Captain Arhin urged journalists to act responsibly.
“We understand and respect the role of the media. You have criticised us in the past, and that helps us to introspect and improve. However, every freedom comes with responsibility,” she stated.
She appealed for collaboration in safeguarding national security, stressing that Ghana’s Armed Forces must not be undermined.
“Ghana is the only country we have. Any attempt to undermine the Armed Forces will not inure to the benefit of anyone,” Captain Arhin said on behalf of the military high command.
Read more about the peacekeepers compensation from the links below
The Secretary-General submits budget proposal to the Advisory.
Committee on Administrative and Budgetary Questions (ACABQ)
(http://www.un.org/ga/acaba). The ACABO (Advisory
Committee on Administrative and Budgetary Questions) reviews the proposal and makes recommendations to the General Assembly’s Fifth Committee (http://www.un.org/en/ga/fifth/) for its review and approval. Ultimately, the budget is endorsed by the
General Assembly as a whole.
At the end of the financial cycle, each peacekeeping operation prepares and submits a performance report which shows the actual use of resources. This report is also considered and approved by the General Assembly.
More on the process of establishing.peacekeeping operation budget (http://www.un.org/en/ga/fifth/rl.shtml).
How are peacekeepers compensated?
The UN has no military forces of its own, and Member States provide, on a voluntary basis, the military and police personnel (peacekeeping.un.org/en/troop-and-police-contributors), required for each peacekeeping operation.
Peacekeeping soldiers are paid by their own Governments according to their own national rank and salary scale.
Countries volunteering uniformed personnel to peacekeeping operations are reimbursed by the UN at a standard rate, approved by the General Assembly, of US$1,428 per soldier per month as of 1 July 2019.
Police and other civilian personnel are paid from the peacekeeping budgets established for each operation.
The UN also reimburses Member States (//peacekeeping.un.org/en/deployment-and-reimbursement) for
providing equipment, personnel and support services to military or police contingents.
Selected General Assembly documents regulating the scale of assessments applicable to United Nations Peacekeeping
31 December 2024 Effective rates of assessment for peacekeeping from 1 January 2025 to 31 December 2027 (peacekeeping.un.org/sites/default/files/scale_of_assessments_for_the_apportionment_of_the_expenses_of_un_peacekeeping
24 December 2018 Effective rates of assessment for peacekeeping operations 1 January to 31 December 2021 (https://undocs.org/a/73/350,
28 December 2015 Effective rates of assessment for peacekeeping to 1 January 2016 to 31 December 2018 (http://www.un.org/en/ga/search
23 December 2015 Scale of assessments for the apportionment of the expenses of United Nations peacekeeping operations (http://www.un.org)
