The Minister for Defence, Dr Edward Omane Boamah, has declared an end to the practice of assigning military personnel to provide private security for unauthorised individuals.

Speaking at the Government Accountability Series at Jubilee House on Monday, July 21, Dr Boamah made it clear that the Ghana Armed Forces will no longer invest in training soldiers who ultimately serve as personal bodyguards for individuals outside the official security framework.

“We seek to train soldiers who will not be in haste to provide duties to unauthorised persons. That era is over,” he stated.

Resetting Security Priorities

Dr Boamah’s remarks follow a recent directive from the Military Council ordering the withdrawal of military protection from former government appointees, businesspeople, and others not legally entitled to such services.

The Defence Minister explained that this decision forms part of government’s broader “Reset Agenda”, which is focused on restoring discipline, accountability, and transparency in the nation’s security arrangements.

Announcing the directive in a Facebook post on Tuesday, July 15, Dr Boamah described the move as necessary to align Ghana’s military protocols with international best practice and to safeguard public resources.

Focus on National Security, Not Private Guards

According to Dr Boamah, the Ghana Armed Forces must prioritise defending the nation’s territorial integrity, supporting national security operations, and contributing to peacekeeping missions—not offering private security services to unauthorised individuals.

“This is about restoring the integrity of the Armed Forces and ensuring that our soldiers focus on their core mandate, which is to protect the nation, not to serve as bodyguards for private citizens,” he said.

The Defence Minister reaffirmed government’s commitment to maintaining a professional and disciplined military, stating that the misuse of security personnel undermines public trust and stretches limited national security resources.

“We are sending a clear signal that the military is not for private hire,” he emphasised.