Dominic Nitiwul, former Minister of Defence
The Minister of Defence, Dr Edward Kofi Omane Boamah, has raised the alarm over what he describes as a severe neglect of food provision for the Ghana Armed Forces (GAF) under the previous Akufo-Addo-Bawumia administration, revealing that Ghanaians are facing an “avoidable food supply problem.”
In a Facebook post last Friday, Dr Omane Boamah, disclosed that a crucial meeting was held on Thursday, March 20, 2025, to deliberate on a sustainable food supply for the military.
During this meeting, it was revealed that the erstwhile Akufo-Addo government, had accumulated a substantial food supply debt of approximately GH¢270 million from August 2023 to December 2024.
For eight years, Dominic Aduna Bingab Nitiwul, the Member of Parliament (MP) for the Bimbilla constituency in the Northern Region, served as President Nana Akufo-Addo’s defence minister.
He often painted a glowing picture of the state of the Ghanaian military and even oversaw the promotion of the Chief of Defence Staff (CDS) to the rank of General, as a mark of better-armed forces.
However, reports indicate that the reality of Ghana’s military situation is quite the opposite. The GAF lacks the requisite complement of military vehicles, weapons, and other logistical support necessary to mount a serious defence in the event of an attack.
The Herald has learned that the United Nations (UN) has, in recent times, queried Ghana about the quality of logistics, particularly the armoured vehicles deployed for peacekeeping missions. The UN has even threatened to withhold reimbursements if the vehicles are not upgraded.
“It was revealed that the Akufo-Addo-Bawumia government did not prioritise food provision for the Ghana Armed Forces. Yet, we all know soldiers do not march on empty stomachs,” Dr Omane Boamah, who succeeded Nitiwul, wrote on March 21, 2025.
Dr Omane Boamah, explained that the debt has placed significant pressure on food suppliers, thereby affecting the feeding of military personnel. However, the Minister for Finance, Dr Cassiel Ato Forson, has pledged to clear current bills, while working towards settling the outstanding arrears.
“Finance Minister Ato Forson has promised to pay current bills as we work towards settling the arrears of over GH¢270 million left behind by the NPP government,” Dr Omane Boamah stated.
The defence minister, further assured that the government is committed to implementing both short-term and medium-term solutions to address the military’s food supply challenges.
“We will commence that journey of food supply solutions next week,” he said, adding, “We’re determined to provide short-term and medium-term solutions to this avoidable food supply problem.”
This revelation has sparked concerns about the welfare of the armed forces, with many questionings how such a critical issue was overlooked. Observers will be closely monitoring how the new administration tackles the crisis.
