The government has dismissed claims that the absence of substantive Ministers for Defence and Environment has negatively affected operations at the two ministries, insisting that they continue to function efficiently under acting leadership.
The Minister of State in charge of Government Communications, Felix Kwakye Ofosu, said the portfolios have been effectively managed despite remaining vacant for the past six months.
Mr. Kwakye Ofosu explained that acting ministers currently overseeing the Defence and Environment ministries have maintained operational continuity, with no noticeable decline in performance.
The vacancies followed a fatal military helicopter crash on August 6, 2025, which claimed the lives of six civilians, including the then Minister for Defence, Dr. Edward Omane Boamah, and the Minister for Environment, Dr. Ibrahim Murtala Muhammed. Other victims of the crash included Acting Deputy National Security Coordinator Muniru Mohammed, NDC Vice Chairman Dr. Samuel Sarpong, and Deputy Director-General of the National Disaster Management Organisation (NADMO), Samuel Aboagye.
Three personnel of the Ghana Armed Forces — Squadron Leader Peter Bafemi Anala, Flying Officer Manin Twum-Ampadu, and Sergeant Ernest Addo Mensah — who operated the aircraft, also lost their lives.
In the aftermath of the tragedy, President John Dramani Mahama appointed the Minister for Finance, Dr. Cassiel Ato Forson, as Acting Minister for Defence, while Emmanuel Armah-Kofi Buah was named Acting Minister for Environment.
Responding to public calls for the appointment of substantive ministers, Mr. Kwakye Ofosu said the President is satisfied with the current arrangements and does not consider the matter urgent.
“The President has not pointed to any specific date on when he is going to appoint his Defence Minister or an Environment Minister,” he said.
“As we speak, there is a minister in charge of Defence and a minister in charge of the Environment who are working. I don’t think there have been any shortfalls in their output so far,” he added.
He stressed that substantive appointments would be made at the President’s discretion, assuring the public that they would be duly informed once a decision is taken.
