By Kwame Bediako
The Ghana Armed Forces (GAF) has strongly refuted circulating media reports alleging exploitation of Ghanaian peacekeepers deployed with the United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL).
The claims suggested troops were restricted from shopping outside their camps and forced to cover their own airfare for leave trips back to Ghana.
GAF emphasized that these assertions are misleading and do not reflect the reality on the ground.
In response to the volatile security environment in UNIFIL’s operational area, the force headquarters has supported the setup of 11 shops run by local Lebanese vendors across two Ghanaian Battalion (GHANBATT) locations.
These complement a single Post Exchange shop operated by the battalion itself.
This arrangement mirrors practices in other UNIFIL battalions, providing troops with multiple shopping options rather than limiting them to one outlet as alleged.
GAF also dismissed the airfare claims outright, confirming that the Government of Ghana fully funds return flights for all peacekeepers, including those in UNIFIL, during approved leave periods.
No out-of-pocket expenses are required from the troops for this essential travel.
Such misinformation, GAF warned, erodes troop discipline and morale while risking damage to Ghana’s international reputation as a reliable peacekeeping partner.
The military urged media outlets to verify facts rigorously before publication to prevent unnecessary harm.
This clarification comes as Ghana continues its valued contributions to UNIFIL, highlighting the challenges of peacekeeping in tense regions and the importance of accurate reporting.
