The Defence Minister nominee, Dr Edward Kofi Omane Boamah, has pledged to prioritise resolving the accommodation challenges facing the Ghana Armed Forces (GAF).

He underscored the urgent need to enhance military housing infrastructure to provide personnel with suitable living conditions.

Speaking during his vetting by Parliament’s Appointments Committee on 28 January, Dr Omane Boamah disclosed that the GAF is currently grappling with an accommodation shortfall of approximately 17,000 units.

“Accommodation is a critical issue, and the deficit stands at around 17,000 units if I am not mistaken. Successive governments have made efforts to address this gap, and I can assure you that various options will be explored to resolve the situation,” he stated.

Dr Omane Boamah also expressed his commitment to utilising innovative approaches to tackle the deficit, including Public-Private Partnerships (PPPs) and increased budgetary allocations.

“The priority is to ensure that soldiers are provided with adequate accommodation, even if it means leveraging PPPs or tapping into the government’s budget. The accommodation will be befitting and meet the expectations of our Armed Forces,” he assured.