The newly appointed Minister of Defence, Kenneth Gilbert Adjei, has assumed office with a pledge to prioritise the modernisation of the Ghana Armed Forces (GAF), improve the welfare of personnel and strengthen the country's preparedness to respond to emerging security threats.
He said the changing security environment, marked by violent extremism, terrorism, transnational organised crime, cyber threats and instability in the Sahel, requires the country to rethink its defence strategies and strengthen GAF's capabilities.
"These developments demand that we think and plan differently and prepare differently. The defence sector must remain responsive to this changing environment. We must continuously review and strengthen our doctrine and strategies," he said.
Adjei made the pledge when he officially assumed office as substantive Minister of Defence at a handover ceremony at the ministry in Accra last Friday, marking the end of Finance Minister Dr Cassiel Ato Forson's tenure as caretaker of the ministry. The transition was formally completed through the signing of handover documents by both ministers.
Adjei was reassigned from the Ministry of Works and Housing to the Defence Ministry as part of President John Dramani Mahama's government reshuffle announced on Friday, August 7.
He said modernisation of the Armed Forces would go beyond acquiring new equipment and platforms, stressing the need to invest in personnel, maintenance and logistics systems, technology and capabilities suited to emerging threats. "Modernisation must, therefore, remain an important part of our agenda. This should not simply be about acquiring new platforms and equipment. It must also involve investing in our personnel, improving maintenance and logistics systems, embracing technology, and ensuring that our capabilities respond to emerging threats," he said.
He pledged to deepen cooperation between GAF and other national security agencies, as well as strengthen the country's regional and international security partnerships, noting that security challenges facing the country and the sub-region increasingly cross national boundaries and institutional mandates.
Adjei, who previously served as Deputy Minister of Defence between 2015 and 2017, said he would run an open door policy and rely on the professional advice of ministry officials and personnel. "I intend to maintain an open door policy that encourages frank, professional, and constructive engagement at all levels. I will, therefore, welcome counsel and contributions from the Deputy Minister, the Chief of Defence Staff, the Service Chiefs, the Chief Director, Directors, Officers, and civilian staff because every meaningful contribution towards advancing the work of this ministry and strengthening our armed forces deserves to be heard," he said.
The new minister paid tribute to his predecessor, the late Dr Edward Kofi Omane Boamah, who died alongside other government officials and military personnel in a helicopter crash, calling the incident a painful chapter in the nation's history and saying the best way to honour the deceased was to continue the work they had dedicated themselves to. He also thanked Dr Ato Forson for his leadership of the ministry following Omane Boamah's death.
Dr Ato Forson called for a shift in the country's strategic defence posture, arguing that the future of defence should become more technology led and intelligence driven rather than manpower heavy. While welcoming Adjei and expressing confidence in his ability to lead the ministry, citing his previous experience in the sector, the Finance Minister urged personnel of the Armed Forces to preserve their professionalism and discipline and remain loyal to the Constitution and the country.
The Deputy Minister of Defence, Ernest Brogya Genfi, said the ministry looked forward to working under Adjei's leadership to advance government's agenda of safeguarding the country's territorial integrity, improving the welfare of military personnel and modernising GAF, adding that Adjei's prior experience as Deputy Minister gave him a strong understanding of the ministry and the armed forces.
