ACCRA: Captain Ben Edmund Duah (Rtd), Executive Director of the Veterans Administration, Ghana (VAG), has called on the Ministry of Defence to revise pension schemes for victims of the Provisional National Defence Council (PNDC) era and retired military personnel of Lieutenant Colonel rank and below. The appeal was made at a Military Band Concert which also served as the launch event for the 2024 Poppy Appeal in Accra. According to Ghana News Agency, Captain Duah addressed the Defence Minister, Mr. Dominic Nitiwul, highlighting the ongoing issues regarding inadequate pension arrangements for certain veterans. He emphasized the urgency in addressing these concerns, which he described as "nightmares" for many ex-service members. The push for pension rationalization is seen as a crucial step in acknowledging the service and sacrifices of these veterans, and in enhancing the public perception of the current Defence Minister's administration. During his speech, Captain Duah outlined several initiatives undertake n by VAG to improve its financial health and service delivery. These initiatives include the recovery of lands with assistance from the Ghana Armed Forces, issuing ID cards to members, and developing a software application launched in 2023 to streamline pension processes, especially for military widows. The concert provided a fundraising opportunity to support various VAG projects, including the construction of offices and support centers across the nation. Dr. Bernard Okoe-Boye, Minister of Health and guest of honour, committed to supporting a VAG clinic in Amasaman with an ambulance, GHS 100,000, and additional resources to equip the clinic with necessary medical equipment. The Veterans Administration, Ghana was established under Act 844 of 2012 to manage the welfare of the country's retired military personnel. VAG currently boasts a membership of approximately 19,000, including modern-day military veterans, their widows, and a number of World War II ex-service men. The organization operates across 10 reg ions in Ghana, with 112 district offices and two active Legion Villages.