The Minister for Defence, Dr. Edward Omane Boamah, has revealed a serious security breach involving the theft of ammunition within the Ghana Armed Forces.

This disclosure came during his working visit to the Kofi Annan International Peacekeeping Training Centre in Accra, where he stressed the need for tighter security oversight and urgent reforms in the management of arms.

While addressing officers at the Centre, Dr. Boamah recounted earlier concerns raised in 2024 about the unauthorized transfer of military ammunition from the Ghana Armed Forces to the then National Security Secretariat without proper “consultation and authorization.”

“Just when I thought that was being addressed, with an investigation which the present National Security Coordinator is seeing to, we have uncovered another one. And in this case, it’s the theft of ammunition”
Dr. Edward Omane Boamah, Minister for Defence

Dr. Edward Omane Boamah, Minister for Defence

The Minister of Defence emphasized the gravity of the matter, suggesting that illegal weapons in civilian hands may have originated from within the armed services and not from the ingenuity of citizens in securing them.

“They may have come from the complicity of people who are taxed with responsibility,” he added, expanding on the broader implications of ammunition theft, especially when these weapons end up in the wrong hands – people who are not well trained or have ulterior motives.

The Defence Minister expressed deep concern about the proliferation of illegal arms and its destabilizing effect on traditional authority structures, especially in areas experiencing long-standing rivalries.

He linked the ongoing surge in chieftaincy disputes across Ghana to the illegal circulation of such unauthorized firearms.

Government Action

Dr. Boamah assured that President John Dramani Mahama’s administration is not treating the situation lightly. He stated that the National Security Secretariat is actively investigating both theft of ammunition cases now.

The revelations have prompted renewed internal security measures within the armed forces, aimed at preventing further breaches and holding those responsible accountable.

According to the Ministry of Defence, the steps being taken will include a thorough review of ammunition inventory protocols, reinforced chain-of-command accountability, and deeper collaboration with military intelligence.

The visit to the Kofi Annan International Peacekeeping Training Centre formed part of Dr. Boamah’s broader tour of key military institutions.

The trip provided an opportunity to assess ongoing training programmes and to highlight the importance of ethical conduct and professional responsibility within the Ghana Armed Forces.

The revelations, however, overshadowed the event, raising national concern over the integrity of the country’s internal arms management.

The Ministry of Defence reiterated its commitment to transparency and accountability in the handling of all military assets.

Officials say the current investigations will lead to tangible reforms, including technology-driven ammunition tracking systems and real-time reporting protocols for weapons movement.

The discovery has triggered sharp public interest in how ammunition meant for national defence could be misappropriated internally, particularly at a time when conflicts fueled by small arms are on the rise in various regions.

Dr. Boamah concluded his remarks by reaffirming the government’s readiness to curb all forms of internal complicity and collusion that threaten national peace.