The Poppy Appeal, an annual fundraising event by the Veterans Administration Ghana (VAG), was launched at the Retired Commissioned Officers’ Clubhouse, North Ridge, Accra, with the Armed Forces Central Band in attendance on Friday 11 October 2024.

The event is set aside to raise funds through the sale of beautifully designed artificial poppy flowers, which also commemorate those who have lost their lives in conflicts around the world.

Speaking at the event, the Guest of Honour and Minister of Health, Dr Bernard Okoe Boye, revealed that the gallantry and sacrifice of Ghanaian soldiers in Burma and East Africa were the reasons behind the global adoption of the artificial poppy. He noted that the poppy has since been embraced as a symbol of peace, reminding the world of the ugly horrors of war and the need for dialogue to end conflicts.

He called for a better pension allowance structure for veterans of the two World Wars and post-independence veterans, including healthcare improvements.

Dr Okoe Boye encouraged the Veterans Administration to explore other means of generating income to supplement voluntary donations and government interventions for the welfare of veterans. He pledged an ambulance and an amount of GH¢100,000 to VAG. Other donations included GH¢50,000 from the Military High Command.

The Executive Director of VAG, Captain Ben Edmund Duah (Rtd), appealed to the Minister of Defence, Honourable Dominic Nitiwul, to rationalize the pensions of some retired officers and non-commissioned officers. He highlighted that this would enhance the welfare of veterans and improve their standing in society.