On January 21, 2025, President John Dramani Mahama nominated Dr. Edward Kofi Omane Boamah as Minister of Defence, a decision that would mark the beginning of a short yet impactful chapter in Ghana’s leadership.
Facing the Parliamentary Appointment Committee with calm resolve and depth of knowledge, Dr. Omane Boamah was unanimously approved on January 30, 2025. True to his character, he wasted no time. Just a day after the President’s swearing-in, he reported to duty and met with the entire staff of the Ministry of Defence, ready to serve.
On February 10, 2025, he undertook his first official visit to the Ghana Army Headquarters at Burma Camp, Accra. There, he met with senior military leaders and key personnel demonstrating an early and firm commitment to understanding Ghana’s defence infrastructure and the people dedicated to protecting it.
Shortly after, Dr. Omane Boamah convened a meeting with members of the Defence Press Corps, seeking to understand their roles, the challenges they faced, and how best to support transparent and responsible defence reporting.
Within just a few months, he had visited almost every major military installation in Accra, laying the groundwork for a nationwide regional tour to assess the state of military infrastructure across Ghana. These visits reflected his active, hands-on leadership style always engaging, always listening.
Despite the brevity of his tenure, Dr. Omane Boamah welcomed numerous international dignitaries and security partners, strengthening Ghana’s global defence and peacekeeping partnerships and reinforcing the country’s commitment to international diplomacy and security cooperation.
His final official tour took him to the Ghana Military Academy, where he interacted with cadets undergoing training. He later visited the Kofi Annan International Peacekeeping Training Centre, and finally the Ghana Armed Forces Command and Staff College, where he voiced concern over missing military ammunition a sign of his insistence on transparency and accountability.
Dr. Omane Boamah was widely recognized for his passionate speeches always articulate, focused, and filled with purpose. In his brief but productive time as Minister of Defence, he achieved the following:
- Exposed hidden legacy debts within the defence sector
- Initiated a recruitment plan to enlist 12,000 new military personnel
- Proposed comprehensive welfare and housing reforms for service member
- Sought a €50 million security support package from the European Union
- His leadership style was deeply influenced by his background in health policy, negotiation, and people-centered governance.
- He brought a refreshing blend of discipline, compassion, and vision to the Ministry.
