The Chief of Defence Staff (CDS), Lieutenant General William Agyapong, has disclosed that the Military High Command is in discussions with the Armed Forces Council to improve welfare provisions for personnel and their families, including proposals to extend spousal pension payments.
According to Lt Gen Agyapong, the proposed reform seeks to increase spousal pension payments from three to six months to ease the financial burden on bereaved families during periods of loss.
He made the remarks during a goodwill visit to two retired senior non-commissioned officers at their residences in Kumasi on Friday, 24 April 2026.
The CDS visited former Forces Sergeant Major, Ex-Chief Warrant Officer Adu Yaw Daniel, and former Academy Sergeant Major of the Ghana Military Academy, Warrant Officer Class One Ali Nakyea Seidu.
Lt Gen Agyapong further revealed significant enhancements to the Ghana Armed Forces (GAF) Benevolent Fund, noting that payouts have been increased from GH¢500 to GH¢10,000 for beneficiaries.
He also highlighted the introduction of the GAF Trust Fund, designed to provide immediate financial assistance of up to GH¢55,000 to families of personnel who die in active service. The initiative, he explained, is intended to cushion families pending the processing and payment of pensions and gratuities.
Under the scheme, personnel who sustain injuries and receive compensation will be entitled to 30 per cent of their assured sum as relief. Contributors who exit the service without making any claims will also receive 30 per cent of their total contributions.
Addressing healthcare concerns, the CDS indicated that the completion of the Afari Military Hospital would significantly improve access to quality healthcare for both serving personnel and veterans, particularly in the middle and northern belts of the country.
The visit formed part of a broader strategic effort by the GAF to honour the distinguished service of retired personnel, assess their welfare, and tap into their institutional experience for the benefit of the Armed Forces.
During the engagement, Ex-CWO Adu Yaw Daniel, who served as Forces Sergeant Major from 6 May 2009 to 30 May 2013, shared insights from his 37-year military career and offered suggestions aimed at strengthening support systems for retired personnel.
Ex-WOI Ali Nakyea Seidu commended the current leadership of the Ghana Armed Forces for its interventions, while urging the Military High Command to prioritise professional excellence through intensified training, merit-based appointments, and adherence to core values of integrity and teamwork.
He also called for strengthened internal mechanisms to address grievances and improvements in healthcare delivery at the 37 Military Hospital.
In his concluding remarks, Lt Gen Agyapong praised the retirees for their dedicated service and encouraged them to continue mentoring younger personnel by passing on the traditions and values of the Armed Forces. He reaffirmed the GAF’s commitment to supporting its veterans.
As part of the visit, the CDS presented gift items and an undisclosed sum of money to the two ex-servicemen.
In response, the retirees expressed appreciation for the gesture, describing it as a rare and thoughtful initiative within the Armed Forces. They called for sustained engagement between serving and retired personnel, noting that such interactions help to strengthen unity, preserve institutional memory, and promote mutual respect.
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.
