The Government of Ghana has begun clearing long-outstanding gratuity arrears owed to retired military personnel under a newly approved phased payment plan, marking a significant step toward resolving a benefits backlog that has persisted since 2020.
The Ghana Armed Forces announced that the first tranche of payments will be made by close of business on February 27, 2026.
2,393 Retirees to Benefit Initially
A total of 2,393 beneficiaries — comprising 238 officers and 2,155 soldiers — are set to receive payments in the first phase. The arrangement applies to personnel who retired from November 2020 onwards under Constitutional Instrument (CI) 129.
The arrears stem from reforms introduced under CI 129, which extended the years of service for military personnel and increased retirement benefit calculations without corresponding budgetary allocations at the time.
Under the new plan, the remaining balances will be settled in four instalments between now and December 2027, following an agreement reached between the Military High Command, the Ministry of Finance, Ghana, and the Ministry of Defence, Ghana.
Presidential Directive
The settlement follows a directive issued in January 2026 by President John Dramani Mahama during the annual West African Soldiers’ Social Activity at Burma Camp.
At the event, the President disclosed that arrears exceeding GH¢1 billion were owed to approximately 3,000 retired personnel and directed the Minister of Finance to release funds to address the backlog.
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He attributed the accumulation of arrears to the lack of dedicated budgetary provisions when CI 129 was introduced in 2020.
Broader Financial Adjustments
In addition to the gratuity settlement, the President announced that new salary scales for serving personnel of the Ghana Armed Forces will take effect in March 2026. Arrears for January and February are expected to be paid within the same period.
Military authorities have indicated that all future retirements will now be processed in line with CI 129 to prevent further accumulation of unpaid benefits.
Relief After Years of Uncertainty
In a statement signed by Captain Veronica Adzo Arhin, Acting Director General of Public Relations, the Armed Forces described the payment rollout as the resolution of a long-standing issue affecting morale and financial security among retirees.
The phased approach is expected to ease fiscal pressure while providing structured relief to retired officers and soldiers who have waited years for their full entitlements.
The move also signals an effort by government to strengthen confidence within the security services and restore administrative stability in military compensation processes.
