By Franklin ASARE-DONKOH
Kenneth Gilbert Adjei has officially assumed office as Ghana’s Minister for Defence, succeeding the late Dr Edward Omane Boamah.
Mr Adjei took over the portfolio on Friday, August 14, 2026, at a formal handover ceremony held at the Ministry of Defence in Accra.
He becomes the 24th person to serve as Defence Minister under Ghana’s Fourth Republic.
At the ceremony, Mr Adjei signed the official handing-over documents, formally assuming responsibility for the ministry and the country’s defence affairs.
The portfolio was handed over to him by the Minister for Finance, Dr Cassiel Ato Forson, who had been overseeing the ministry in an acting capacity following the death of Dr Omane Boamah.
Dr Omane Boamah, the former Defence Minister, died in a military helicopter crash on August 6, 2025.
Experience in defence
Mr Adjei brings previous experience in the defence sector to his new role, having served as Deputy Minister for Defence between 2015 and 2017 during President John Dramani Mahama’s first administration.
Before his latest appointment, he served as Minister for Works, Housing and Water Resources.
President Mahama subsequently reassigned him to the Defence Ministry as part of a cabinet reshuffle.
Focus on national security
In his remarks after taking office, Mr Adjei outlined key areas he intends to prioritise as Defence Minister.
These include strengthening Ghana’s defence preparedness in response to growing instability in the Sahel, improving surveillance and intelligence gathering along the country’s borders, and enhancing the welfare and operational capacity of personnel of the Ghana Armed Forces.
He also stressed the need to improve the living and working conditions of military personnel while ensuring that the Armed Forces are adequately equipped to carry out their duties.
The ceremony ended with a guard of honour mounted by personnel of the Ghana Armed Forces to formally welcome the new Defence Minister.
