The Ranking Member on Parliament’s Defence and Interior Committee, Rev John Ntim Fordjour, has described the failure of President John Dramani Mahama to appoint a substantive Minister for Defence nearly three months after the death of Dr Edward Omane Boamah as “dangerous and reckless.”

He warned that the prolonged vacancy at the Ministry of Defence poses serious risks to Ghana’s territorial integrity and national security at a time when instability and threats are on the rise.

Rev Fordjour expressed grave concern over what he termed as “a dangerous gamble” by the government, citing growing insecurity across parts of the country.

“At a time when the security of our country is on the path of rapid deterioration – Gbenyiri, Sampa, Bawku, Galamsey etc – with over 23,000 citizens having fled to neighbouring countries as refugees, this dangerous inaction is unacceptable,” he said.

According to the Ranking Member, no responsible government would leave such a critical ministry without leadership for an extended period, especially amid rising cross-border tensions and internal security concerns.

“No serious country will run 3 months without a substantive Defence Minister. Is there no suitable person in the NDC who can be trusted by President Mahama to fill the worthy shoes of my departed honourable friend Dr Omane Boamah?” he asked.

Rev Fordjour therefore called on President Mahama to act with urgency by appointing a substantive Defence Minister.

He stressed that the nation’s security institutions require firm political direction to effectively retool the Ghana Armed Forces and safeguard the nation’s sovereignty.

“We demand the immediate appointment of a substantive Minister for Defence to lead the spirited collective action to retool the Ghana Armed Forces and sustain the territorial integrity of our beloved country,” he added.